CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the importance of local government support to the arts.

Edward Vaizey: Ministers within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regularly meet colleagues from the Department for Communities and Local Government to discuss a range of matters.

Broadband

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to stimulate broadband take-up by small businesses and encourage innovation by such businesses via the use of broadband.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is working with local authorities as part of their local broadband plans to help them provide support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to exploit the global opportunities offered by the internet. My Department is also working with the Departments for Business, Innovation and Skills and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure this activity is integrated with the Government's wider support for SMEs and its broader Information Economy Strategy, currently under development. DCMS is also working closely with the Federation of Small Businesses to ensure SMEs recognise the benefits of faster broadband.

Broadband: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans she is making to upgrade those four per cent of Welsh households who will not be getting superfast broadband by 2015;
	(2)  with reference to her agreement with BT to upgrade 96 per cent of the households in Wales to superfast broadband by 2015, which areas of (a) Wales and (b) Arfon constituency have already been upgraded; which areas will be upgraded and when that upgrade will take place; and which areas will not be upgraded by 2015.

Edward Vaizey: The UK Government has allocated £56.9 million to help stimulate investment in Wales. The Welsh Government is leading on deployment of broadband in Wales and is responsible for the decisions with respect to which areas receive investment. All premises will have at least standard broadband with speeds of 2 megabits per second or more if they are not provided with access to superfast broadband. The Welsh Government is also responsible for collecting data on roll-out progress. DCMS will collate data from all projects to monitor progress, but does not currently have any data from the Welsh Government on progress in Wales to date. Further information can be accessed at:
	http://www.superfast-wales.com/

Olympic Games 2012: Tickets

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 18 January 2013 on Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tickets), which Government Ministers received complimentary tickets to the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012.

Hugh Robertson: The full list of those who received Government tickets to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games can be found at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/9672.aspx

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many senior officials in her Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Hugh Robertson: None of the Department's senior officials had or have had such terms of employment specified in their contracts during 2012-13.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many senior officials in her Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(2)  how many senior officials of her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many chairs in her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not hold this information centrally.
	In appointing chairs or members to the Boards of the Department arm's length bodies (ALB) we make it clear, in the terms and conditions of appointment, that it is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that they pay the correct tax. Responsibility for making payments in respect of travel and subsistence to chairs or members is for the individual ALB.

Video Games: Taxation

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment her Department has made of the competitiveness of tax arrangements for UK video games companies.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	As announced at Budget 2012, the Government will introduce a new corporation tax relief to support companies developing video games, alongside tax reliefs for the production of animation and high-end television. These new creative sector tax reliefs will be available from April 2013, subject to State aid approval.
	The autumn statement of 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-882, confirmed that the video games tax relief will operate according to the successful model of the existing film tax relief. Eligible companies will be able to apply for a payable tax credit worth up to 2 5% of qualifying development costs, which will ensure that the relief is among the most generous in the world.
	Further information on the proposed design and operation of the new creative sector tax reliefs, including the video games tax relief, is available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_creative_sector_tax_reliefs.htm

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime Prevention: Females

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to prevent women from getting involved in crime.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office does not have a specific programme to prevent women, or people of any gender, getting involved in crime. We do, however, respond to particular issues as they arise. For example, our work on Ending Gang and Youth Violence includes commitments to support gang-associated women and girls.

Crime: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed in (a) Liverpool, Walton, (b) Liverpool and (c) Merseyside using a (i) firearm, (ii) knife and (iii) physical weapon of any description in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The available information relates to crimes recorded by the police in Merseyside. Firearms and knife crime data are only collected at police force area level and so data are not available for Liverpool Walton and Liverpool. The Home Office does not collect any data on offences using physical weapons.
	The latest available firearms data is for 2010-11 and shows that there were 226 firearms offences (excluding air weapons) recorded in Merseyside. Data for 2011-12 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 7 February 2013.
	Latest data for knife crime relates to 2011-12 and shows that there were 599 offences recorded by the police in Merseyside that involved a knife or sharp instrument. This figure only includes the offences of attempted murder, threats to kill, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, robbery, rape and sexual assaults.

Driving Under Influence

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people in the UK have (a) been blood tested for drink driving, (b) failed a blood test for drink driving and (c) failed a blood test for drink driving and been more than twice over the legal limit in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many people in the UK have (a) been urine tested for drink driving, (b) failed a urine test for drink driving and (c) failed a urine test for drink driving and been more than twice over the legal limit in each year since 2000.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Entry Clearances

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was for the UK Border Agency to process visa applications in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The following table shows the average time taken to process visas in each of the last five years. This data relates to all visas processed, and is expressed in working days excluding weekends and public holidays.
	Processing times are calculated from the day of biometric enrolment to the day the decision is dispatched to the customer.
	
		
			  Working days 
			 2008 7.1 
			 2009 8.3 
			 2010 8.6 
			 2011 8.0 
			 2012 8.2 
		
	
	This data is based on internal UK Border Agency Management Information. It is provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: China

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of a visa for a visitor from China to (a) the UK and (b) the EU Schengen area.

Mark Harper: The cost to purchase a visa for a visitor from China to the UK is £78 for a visa that allows multiple entries within a six month period and is biometrically secure. The visa is priced below the cost of production (£140) to ensure the fee remains internationally competitive and to support the UK tourism industry and wider economy.
	The cost to purchase a visa for a visitor from China to the EU Schengen area is €60 (about £50) for a single entry visa, valid for 90 days. However in China there is an additional mandatory service charge for a French or German Schengen visa of 195 RMB (about £19.50). Information is not held on the production cost of a visa to the EU Schengen area.

Human Trafficking

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which local authority areas victims of human trafficking in England and Wales were discovered prior to their referral to the Salvation Army victim support scheme in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: Data on the location of the local authority where victims of human trafficking have been found is not routinely recorded.
	As set out in the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group report on human trafficking, published on 18 October 2012, the Government is focusing on improving its collection of data on human trafficking victims to strengthen the UK's response to this crime.

Human Trafficking: Children

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to rehabilitate children who have been trafficked into the UK.

Mark Harper: The Government is fully committed to safeguarding victims of child trafficking.
	Where a child has been trafficked and is identified as a child in need, the local authority must carry out an assessment to establish the child's support needs. Where a child is likely to suffer, or is suffering, significant harm, the local authority must investigate under section 47 (child protection) and provide the necessary support services. Those that come into care, and this includes unaccompanied migrant children, receive the full range of support and care that all looked after children are entitled to. A social worker must assess the needs of each child and draw up a care plan which sets out how the authority intends to respond to the full range of the child's needs. This includes access to health, education, psychological support and appropriate and safe accommodation.

Ibrahim Magag

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been involved in the search for Ibrahim Magag; and how much the investigation has cost to date.

James Brokenshire: We do not routinely comment on ongoing police investigations.

Immigrants: English Language

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency-approved English language tests were (a) taken and (b) passed in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) Walsall South constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Harper: English language testing services are offered by independent organisations, which are not part of the UK Border Agency. The UK Border Agency does not have access to information about the providers' services, test volumes or candidate details.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish any reports that she has received containing estimates of the number of Romanians and Bulgarians who may enter the UK after 31 December 2013.

Mark Harper: The Home Office is not aware of any Government report which estimates such numbers, and has not commissioned estimates of this sort. The Government accepts the view of the independent Migration Advisory Committee that to produce such estimates “would not be sensible, or helpful to policymakers.” Rather than produce speculative forecasts, the Government's priority is to cut out abuse of free movement and address pull factors such as access to benefits and public services. The Home Office is working closely with other Government Departments on these issues.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to provide a substantive reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish on the case of his constituent Mr Neville Wayne Malcolm, Home Office reference M1033831.

Mark Harper: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 31 January 2013 and I replied to the hon. Member on 4 February 2013.

National Fraud Intelligence Bureau

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau's charity resource desk; and what future plans she has for that unit.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau in the City of London police has gathered evidence on the national patterns associated with criminal activity around charity bag theft and fraud. It has also issued police forces with information and guidance about crime related to charity bag collections. The Government continues to work with law enforcement agencies and the charities sector to ensure that intelligence on charity crime can be linked into the wider intelligence picture on organised crime so as to improve enforcement activity at a national level.

Parenting Contracts

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parenting contracts were issued between their introduction and May 2010; and how many parenting contracts were issued in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 1 February 2013
	These data are not collected centrally.

Passports

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports have been destroyed following confiscation by door staff in the night time economy in each police force area in each year since 2010; what the age group of the holder of each confiscated passport was; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: In 2010, almost 55,000 passports were returned to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). In 2011 the figure was around 60,000 and in 2012, 53,000. Information is not collected centrally on the reasons for the return of the passport or the source from which these passports are returned. Information on the age group of the holders of the passports returned from a particular source is not available.

Romania and Bulgaria

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times she has visited (a) Romania and (b) Bulgaria; and how many meetings she has had with (i) Romanian and (ii) Bulgarian Ministers on immigration issues.

Mark Harper: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of national and international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Autonomy

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether any agencies under his superintendency (a) have active contracts and (b) had contracts at any stage since 2010 with Autonomy Systems Ltd.

Oliver Heald: Apart from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) none of the Law Officers' Departments have had any contracts with Autonomy Systems Ltd since 2010.
	The SFO entered into a contract with Autonomy Systems Limited on 19 June 2009 for an initial period of five years extendable by a further two years, this was extended in June 2011.

Autonomy

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what the value is of the Serious Fraud Office's contract with Autonomy Systems Ltd.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office's contract with Autonomy Systems Limited was awarded on 19 June 2009 for an initial period of five years, extendable by a further two years. In June 2011, the additional two years were taken up and an amendment was made for support, maintenance and licence options, resulting in a contract value of £4,648,689 to June 2016, or £664,098 per annum. Additional services procured under this contract to date, amount to £144,450.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether Serious Fraud Office staff are instructed to record time spent on individual cases on a timesheet.

Oliver Heald: In September 2011, the Serious Fraud Office introduced a system for staff to record time spent on different areas of work. However, the system was not fully utilised until November 2012.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Attorney-General how many senior officials in the Law Officers' Departments (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Oliver Heald: No officials at the Serious Fraud Office currently have such arrangements. However, one official did have such an arrangement for a short period in the early part of 2012-13.
	No officials in the remaining Law Officers' Departments are employed under such arrangements.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

All Party Groups

James Duddridge: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, 
	(1)  how many people who are listed as providing secretariat support to an All-Party Parliamentary Group have parliamentary security passes;
	(2)  how many people who do not work for an hon. Member or a Member of the House of Lords and who are listed as providing secretariat support to an all-party parliamentary group have parliamentary security passes.

John Thurso: As of 30 January 2013 there were 81 holders of parliamentary passes for those providing secretariat support to an All-Party Parliamentary Group.
	We do not record if staff of Members of either House do additional work for an APPG.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Infrastructure Levy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has given to local authorities on requiring up-front payment of the community infrastructure levy by people seeking to build individual buildings.

Nicholas Boles: We have produced guidance on the general collection and enforcement of the levy. That guidance clearly illustrates that charging authorities are able to accept payments in instalments, at amounts and intervals of their choice, but that such a policy should be consistent and transparent and published on their website.
	We are currently reviewing what further steps can be taken to ensure that self-build and genuine small-scale development is not adversely affected by the introduction of the levy.

Council Tax

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of (a) the number of local authorities in England that will use the council tax localisation transition grant and (b) the amount of that grant that will be taken up.

Brandon Lewis: The two week period for local authorities to submit their claims for their allocation of the transition grant opened on 31 January 2013. Local authorities have until 15 February to submit their claims. We will publish figures on take up in due course.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 December 2012, Official Report, columns 71-2WS, on planning administration, if he will publish the analysis used to calculate the costs imposed on the planning system by the need for Environmental Impact Assessment of projects;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the environmental costs avoided by the need for Environmental Impact Assessment of projects;
	(3)  what analysis his Department has undertaken or plans to undertake into the effect of the European Commission's proposals for review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; and if he will publish such analysis.

Nicholas Boles: The European Commission published an impact assessment of the costs and benefits of the European directive on environmental impact assessment, including the effects of various options for change, alongside its proposal to review the directive in October 2012, This identifies that environmental impact assessment can impose significant costs and delays to the planning system, and supports the findings of earlier research in the UK.
	We are consulting widely to understand more fully the implications of the proposal to amend the directive for the UK and are preparing our own impact assessment. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Fire Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of firefighters' jobs that will be lost as a consequence of recent and planned reductions in spending; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the assertion by the Fire Brigades Union that about 70 fire stations face closure and that others will be downgraded as a consequence of planned reductions in spending;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the assertion by the Fire Brigades Union that recent and planned reductions in spending on fire services will lead to loss of life.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 248W.

Fire Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions in fire service budgets on (a) fire prevention, (b) intervention in flooding, (c) resilience to other threats and emergencies and (d) rescues at fires; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: These are matters for each fire and rescue authority which must produce regularly, and consult on, an integrated risk management plan. The plan must identify the risks facing local communities and detail how the fire and rescue authority will allocate its resources to mitigate them effectively. People will have opportunities to make their voices heard on such issues.
	Specific national resilience funding, including funding for high volume pumps used in flood response, is currently delivered through specific grants, and has not been affected by the formula grant changes.
	As I outlined in my statement of 17 December 2012, Official Report, columns 69-70WS, there is significant scope for fire and rescue authorities to make sensible savings, such as through reforms to flexible staffing and crewing arrangements, better procurement; shared services, collaboration with emergency services and other organisations on service delivery and estates, sickness management; sharing of senior staff, locally led mergers and operational collaborations, new fire-fighting technology, preventative approaches and working with local businesses.

Food Banks

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Ministers in his Department have visited food banks since their appointment to the Department; which food banks were visited; on what dates such visits took place; and whether Ministers donated any food to these food banks.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers in my Department meet with a wide range of organisations and individuals, visiting a variety of locations across the country. Ministers’ engagements are announced as and when appropriate.

Food Banks

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what facilities there are within his Department for his staff and Ministers to donate to food banks.

Brandon Lewis: Although there are currently no facilities within my Department, there is a food bank run by Westminster Chapel near my Department's building in Victoria.
	http://www.westminsterchapel.org.uk/ministries/foodbank.php
	My Department's reception has a Diverted Giving Gift Box which enables staff and visitors to support a local homelessness day centre. We also operate a Give As You Earn Scheme to allow charitable donations via the payroll.

Fracking

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 299W, on fracking, if he will consider amending the (a) National Planning Policy Framework and (b) National Policy Statement for Energy to increase the weight to be attached to local acceptance by the decision-maker in a planning application or the appeal relating to a fracking rig installation.

Nicholas Boles: Applications for shale gas extraction are dealt with under the town and country planning legislation, not the Planning Act 2008. The National Planning Policy Statements for Energy only relate to major energy projects under the 2008 Act.
	As I indicated in my previous answer, local representations are fully taken into account at all stages. The weight to be attached to the material planning considerations in those representations should be based on the individual circumstances of the application or the appeal.
	Locally elected councils should also use local plans to shape and deliver development, and should fully involve local residents in drawing up those plans.

Housing

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2012, Official Report, column 698W, how local authorities which have exhausted the physical supply of land within their boundaries should meet housing demand in the event of irreconcilable disagreement between themselves and neighbouring authorities.

Nicholas Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the local plan should be prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure needs, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development. It will be for the relevant local planning authorities to set out the evidence in support of their proposed housing policies when their plans are examined by an independent inspector.

Mobile Homes

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the siting of social housing development within the boundaries of park home sites populated by retired and disabled people.

Mark Prisk: In relation to planning permission, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 14 January 2013, Official Report, column 504W.

Social Rented Housing

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many home swaps have taken place under the home swap scheme involving a property in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England since October 2011.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 701W, to the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint).

Social Rented Housing: North West

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of vacant one and two bedroom properties owned by each (a) housing association and (b) local authority in the North West;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of one and two bedroom properties owned by each (a) housing association and (b) local authority in the North West.

Mark Prisk: Information is collected about dwelling stock and vacant properties owned by both private registered providers (housing associations) and local authorities. However, although dwelling stock numbers are broken down by number of bedrooms possessed by the property, vacant property numbers are not.
	Statistics on the number of one and two bedroom properties and the total number of vacant properties owned by private registered providers can be found in the full data spreadsheet accompanying the Statistical Data Release published by the Homes and Communities Agency, which is available at the following link:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/news/statistical-data-return
	These data are available both by provider and by the local authority district in which the property is located. Vacant properties are classified as vacant for six weeks or less, vacant for between six weeks and six months, and vacant for over six months.
	Statistics on the total number of local authority-owned one and two bedroom properties for each local authority district in 2011-12 are published in the statistical dataset accompanying the Department's Local Authority Housing Statistics release, which is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2011-to-2012
	Statistics on the total number of vacant local authority-owned properties for each local authority district in 2011-12 are published in the Department's live table 615, which is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
	Vacant property statistics include both vacant properties available for letting and vacant properties not available for letting.

Swimming Pools and Gyms

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) swimming pools and (b) gymnasiums have (i) closed and (ii) opened in each local authority since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Temporary Accommodation: Children

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many children have been registered as living in temporary accommodation in each local authority area in each year between 1997 and 2010; and what the cost to the Exchequer has been of such arrangements in each such year.

Mark Prisk: A table has been placed in the Library of the House, showing the numbers of children or expected children in households in temporary accommodation within each local authority area at 30 June each year from 2004 to 2010 inclusive. They are taken from quarterly P1E (homelessness) returns submitted by local authorities, on which such figures were not collected before June 2004.
	Comparable information on the costs to the Exchequer is not available.
	We are determined to tackle the problem of homeless families. So, from 9 November, local authorities have had hew powers under the Localism Act to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families will no longer need to be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.
	At the same time, we have also put in place extra protection for the most vulnerable. The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 helps to prevent the use of temporary accommodation long distances from families' previous homes and communities.
	For households already in temporary accommodation the local authority has a duty (under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996) to find that family settled accommodation. Local authorities should continue to work with these households to discuss alternative housing options as they become available.

Urban Areas

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy, redacted where necessary to preserve commercial confidentiality, of the contract between the Association of Town Centre Management and his Department to deliver town team support.

Mark Prisk: The Department had a grant funding agreement worth up to £280,335 with the Association of Town Centre Management that ran until 31 January 2013. I will arrange for a copy of the funding agreement and prospectus to be deposited in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office do not employ any senior officials whose terms of employment specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office's only arm’s length body is the Boundary Commission for Scotland. It does not employ any senior officials whose terms of employment specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm’s length body.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office's only arm’s length body is the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The chairman of the Boundary Commission for Scotland is the Speaker of the House of Commons, but he does not take part in the Commission's meetings. Meetings are chaired by the deputy chairman who is a Court of Session judge. He is not paid a fee for attending meetings, but is eligible to claim actual travel expenses for attendance at Commission meetings. When he makes such a claim, he is reimbursed on the basis that he is exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of those expenses.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office's only arm’s length body is the Boundary Commission for Scotland. It does not pay any senior officials on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm’s length body.

UK Membership of EU

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he had discussions relating to a European Union referendum with the Scottish Government prior to 22 January 2013.

David Mundell: No such discussions have taken place.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Ash Dieback Disease

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research his Department is (a) undertaking and (b) aware of into finding an effective treatment for chalara fraxinea;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the efficacy of CuPC33 as a treatment to address (a) fungal and (b) bacterial diseases in trees; and what assessment he has made of its potential as a defence against Chalara fraxinea.

David Heath: The experience in other European countries where Chalara fraxinea is present and our knowledge of the biology of the pathogen indicate that fungicides are unlikely to be effective at eliminating the disease from already infected trees. The pathogen is present in inaccessible areas of the tree and it is also difficult to apply fungicides effectively to large trees. Fungicides may however have a role in particular situations such as the protection of young trees in nurseries and protection of specimen trees or trees of special conservation value.
	A number of companies have contacted DEFRA and its agencies with products which they suggest may be helpful in preventing the disease. The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) is assessing a number of such products: DEFRA has asked Fera to write a research proposal to test the most promising of the products that have been proposed. The products are being shortlisted on the basis of evidence presented by the proposers together with an assessment by Government scientists of their likely efficacy and safety for human health and the environment.
	The Chemical Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive granted, an experimental licence for field trials in respect of CuPC33 during 2012. We have been advised that trials have commenced against the fungal pathogen “Phytophthora ramorum” and the bacterium “Pseudomonas Syringae” (bleeding canker of horse chestnuts). These are pathogens that that are not closely related to and which have a very different biology to “Chalara fraxinea”. We have seen no evidence from laboratory or field studies that CuPC33 is effective against “Chalara fraxinea” or other species with a similar lifecycle.

Beef: Horse Meat

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he was informed about the presence of horsemeat in beefburgers.

David Heath: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 589W.

Bees: Pesticides

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answers of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 590W and of 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 756W, on bees: insecticides, how many research projects the Government funds; what the details are of the research projects the Government funds on the potential effects of pesticides on bees and other pollinators; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: DEFRA has funded research in this area over a number of years. Details on all commissioned projects can be found on the science and research projects search page of the DEFRA website.
	The following DEFRA funded research projects have recently been completed on the potential effects of pesticides on bees and other pollinators:
	PS2366 “Assessing the impact of guttation on non-target arthropods, design
	of extended laboratory and field studies”.
	PS2368 “Potential impact of synergism between systemic seed treatments and sprayed fungicides in crops”.
	The following projects are currently under way:
	PS2371 “Effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments on bumble bee colonies under field conditions”.
	PS2370 “Interpretation of pesticide residues in honeybees”.
	PS2374 “RFID assessment of the effects of pesticides on foraging bees”.
	The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) is examining historic trends in neonicotinoid usage and honey bee health.
	A further two projects are being commissioned. One is a three year study to quantify the actual exposure of wild bumble bees to sub-lethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticides in JJK landscapes (PS2372). The other will evaluate procedures to improve the estimates of exposure of pollinators to neonicotinoid insecticides (PS2376).
	There is a further project led by Dr Chris Connolly within the Insect Pollinators Initiative (which is part funded by DEFRA), which has included research on pesticides. This is “An investigation into the synergistic impact of sub lethal exposure to industrial chemicals on the learning capacity and performance of bees”.

Energy: Waste

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of rising waste export volumes on the UK's energy from waste policy.

Richard Benyon: The export for energy recovery of waste pre-treated to give a refuse derived fuel can have advantages over managing it within the UK, for example if the alternative UK treatment route is more costly or more harmful environmentally. On the other hand, the energy recovered from exported waste is a lost resource to the UK. The Government are discussing with the waste industry the barriers to our domestic energy from waste sector competing effectively for waste derived fuels.

Horse Passports

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the way in which the current horse registration system deals with potential food safety issues.

David Heath: Horse passports contain details of an equine animal's identity and food chain status, including details of veterinary medicines administered and its eligibility for slaughter for human consumption.

Horses: Imports

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses were imported from Ireland in each of the last four years.

David Heath: Horses moving between EU member states are normally required to be pre-notified to competent authorities and to be accompanied by a health certificate. However, as the United Kingdom, Ireland and France share the same level of equine health, ail three countries have for many years operated a derogation (the Tripartite Agreement) permitted by the EU. This removes a considerable economic and administrative burden from our equine industry.
	The following table, based on VAT returns, shows the number of horses imported into the UK from the Republic of Ireland over the previous four years.
	
		
			  Number of live horses 
			 2008 2,088 
			 2009 14,203 
			 2010 2,109 
			 2011 5,330 
			 January - November 2012 2,077

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses sent to slaughter for pet food tested positive for phenylbutazone in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

David Heath: No horses were sent specifically to slaughter for pet food in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. Horses that have been treated with phenylbutazone (‘bute’) are not allowed to enter the food chain or to be used for pet food. There are rigorous controls in place to prevent horsemeat from animals treated with ‘bute’ entering the food chain and these also apply for meat supplied for use in pet food.

Landfill

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of (a) furniture, (b) plastics, (c) textiles, (d) garden waste, (e) glass and (f) disposable nappies going to landfill; and what estimate he has made of the reduction in such disposals in the last year for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The Government's 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England sets out actions that will contribute to reducing the volume of waste going to landfill. Landfill should be the last resort for most waste. The UK also has to meet EU landfill directive targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill. We met the 2010 target and are on track to meet the 2013 one.
	Landfill tax remains a key driver to divert waste from landfill. This tax, which is currently £64 per tonne in 2012-13, will rise by £8 every year to £80 per tonne in 2014-15. There will be a minimum floor under that level of tax until at least 2020.
	In addition, the Waste Prevention Programme for England, which is due at the end of this year, will outline actions to be undertaken by a variety of organisations to increase the amount of items that are reused and reduce the quantity of waste produced. We are also working with the food industry to reduce packaging waste, including plastics and glass, through the Courtauld Commitment Hospitality and Food Service Agreement.
	The last year for which figures on compositional analysis of residual waste to landfill are available is 2007. These figures are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Tonnes 
			 Total waste arising 27,437,000 
			 Furniture 3,000 
			 Plastics 3,709,000 
			 Textiles 1,010,000 
			 Garden waste 1,707,000 
			 Glass 1,339,000 
			 Nappies 1,202,000 
		
	
	Total mixed waste to landfill has declined from 27.4 million tonnes to 17.3 million tonnes between 2007 and 2011, a drop of 37%. Data are not available for specific waste streams, but a further compositional survey was conducted in 2010-11 and the data are currently being analysed.

Pate de Foie Gras

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has recently had discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the import and sale of foie gras.

David Heath: There have been no recent discussions on this issue.

Pesticides: Scotland

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department has provided to the Scottish Government on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Richard Benyon: Officials from DEFRA have kept officials of the Scottish Government, the other Devolved Administrations and interested UK Departments, up to date with the work we have been taking forward. DEFRA and the Scottish Government are both among the bodies advised by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and so share the same independent scientific advice on neonicotinoids.

Plastic Bags

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what comparative assessment he has made of different potential measures to reduce the distribution of single-use carrier bags; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of placing a requirement on businesses to charge for plastic carrier bags.

Richard Benyon: We are currently assessing various measures to reduce the distribution of single use carrier bags. This includes monitoring the results of the single-use carrier bag charging scheme in Wales, Northern Ireland's plan to launch a charge from April 2013, and the outcome of the Scottish consultation on a charge. However, we recognise the pressures on household budgets at this time; levying even a small charge may not be the best option.

Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which UK abattoirs are licensed to slaughter horses.

David Heath: Seven abattoirs are currently approved for the slaughter of horses in the United Kingdom as follows:
	
		
			 Establishment number Establishment name County 
			 4140 G & GB Hewitt Ltd Cheshire 
			 4185 High Peak Meat Exports Ltd Cheshire 
			 2163 Peter Boddy West Yorkshire 
			 8231 Stillmans (Somerset) Ltd Somerset 
			 9080 Oakdale County Armagh 
			 2295 Bowood Farms Ltd North Yorkshire 
			 8070 Philip Hayman Devon 
		
	
	A complete list of all approved slaughterhouses is available at:
	http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/sectorrules/meatplantsprems/meatpremlicence
	This list is updated monthly to reflect new or amended approvals. Approval cannot be taken as an indication that the establishment is currently slaughtering all the species for which it is approved.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Primary Elections

Nick Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress he has made on his proposal to fund 200 all-postal primaries in this Parliament.

Chloe Smith: The Government had been considering the implications of the parliamentary boundary review for the proposal to fund all-postal primaries. Given Parliament's recent decision to move the next review of constituency boundaries from 2013 to 2018, the Government will reflect on the policy and announce its intentions in due course.

Trident

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many meetings the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had in the course of the Trident Alternatives Review.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 4 February 2013
	I have been asked to reply 
	as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
	Since assuming oversight of the review in September 2012, I have had six meetings with officials leading the review, as well as other meetings with relevant bodies, and visits to the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Weapons Establishment site at Aldermaston, and Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.

Trident

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which discussions the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with international parties regarding the UK designing a new nuclear warhead.

Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply 
	as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
	None.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy: Billing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to limit energy contract roll-over for micro-businesses to 30 days; if he will make representations to Ofgem on (a) energy contract roll-over for micro-businesses and (b) the practice of out-of-contract rates; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: It is for the independent regulator, Ofgem to consider whether the existing licence condition governing the use of roll over contracts offers adequate protection to micro business customers. Ofgem are committed to review the rollover contract arrangements, which will take account of out-of-contract rates, immediately after they have concluded their consultation on retail market review. It is important that Ofgem review the full costs and benefits before proposing any changes. I will write to Ofgem to express my support.

Fuel Poverty: Wales

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in (a) Wales and (b) Islwyn constituency which are classified as fuel poor.

Gregory Barker: In 2008, the latest year for which data is available, 332,000 households in Wales were estimated to be in fuel poverty. Projections for 2009 and 2010 estimate 368,000 and 332,000 fuel poor households respectively.
	The Welsh Government do not produce data for lower geographical areas in Wales.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had any discussions with journalists at the (a) Daily Telegraph, (b) Daily Mail, (c) Daily Mirror, (d) Guardian, (e) Times and (f) Financial Times about using part of the Green Deal communications campaign in their publication.

Gregory Barker: In terms of paid-for communications for the Green Deal, DECC negotiate with the national press through the cross-government media buying agency M4C.

Multinational Companies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list the multinational companies with which Ministers in his Department are buddied in the strategic relations initiative announced in July 2011; and how many times each Minister has met his allotted company.

Gregory Barker: This is a United Kingdom Trade and Industry (UKTI) initiative. The full list of companies is available here:
	http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/item/203560.html
	All Ministers meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website which you can access using the following hyperlink.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-of-energy-climate-change&publicationtype=transparency-data

Radioactive Waste: Cumbria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the safety of the local population of the establishment of an underground nuclear waste storage facility in Cumbria.

John Hayes: The Government's Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) process is a staged approach to implementing the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste. The current site selection process for a geological disposal facility has been brought to a close in west Cumbria following the decision by Cumbria County Council not to participate further in the process.
	Safety is paramount in geological disposal. The independent regulators will only allow a geological disposal facility to be built or operated at a particular site if they are satisfied that it will meet their stringent safety requirements. This will require the development of a robust safety case.
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has already prepared a generic disposal system safety case. This has been reviewed by the regulators who found no specific issues that would prevent a site specific safety case, capable of meeting transport, operational and environmental regulatory requirements, being made for a geological disposal facility in the future.
	The work to identify and assess potential sites will include wide ranging safety assessments which become progressively more detailed as the process moves through the stages of the MRWS White Paper to develop a dedicated safety case for a chosen site.

Radioactive Waste: Cumbria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effect on wildlife of storing nuclear waste in Cumbria.

John Hayes: Operators are required to assess the potential impacts of their permitted radioactive discharges on wildlife species. This includes routine discharges, following treatment, arising from the storage of radioactive waste, for example from ventilation plant or routine purging of water from storage ponds. These assessments are done to demonstrate that the impact of discharges during normal operation of storage plant will not exceed internationally derived radiation guidelines. The assessments are also done to check that wildlife species are protected under legislation related to conservation. The strict permitting of the radioactive discharges from waste storage at Sellafield has taken account of such assessments.

TRANSPORT

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which parliamentary constituencies and postcode areas the proposed High Speed 2 line will pass through as part of phase 2 of the project.

Simon Burns: Phase Two of HS2 will pass through the following constituencies on the West Midlands to Leeds leg:
	North Warwickshire; Tamworth; North West Leicestershire; Rushcliffe; Erewash; Broxtowe; Nottingham North; Sherwood; Ashfield; Bolsover; Chesterfield; North East Derbyshire; Sheffield South East; Rother Valley; Rotherham; Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough; Penistone and Stocksbridge; Wentworth and Dearne; Barnsley East; Barnsley Central; Hemsworth; Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford; Morley and Outwood; Elmet and Rothwell; Leeds Central; Leeds East; Selby and Ainsty.
	And through the following constituencies on the West Midlands to Manchester leg:
	Lichfield; Stafford; Stone; Crewe and Nantwich; Eddisbury; Tatton; Wythenshaw and Sale East; Altrincham and Sale West; Manchester Withington; Manchester Gorton; Manchester Central; Warrington South; Warrington North; Stretford and Urmston; Leigh; Makerfield.
	Information on the postcode areas are listed as follows:
	B76-79
	CV9
	CW1-3, CW10, CW5, CW7, CW9
	DE12, DE13, DE55, DE7 ,DE73, DE74
	LE65, LE67
	LS1, LS10, LS11, LS15, LS24-LS26
	M1.M12-14, M20, M22, M23
	NG10, NG11, NG15-17, NG6, NG8, NG9
	S13, S20, S21, S26, S35, S43-45, S5, S60-62, S70-72, S74, S9
	ST15, ST18, ST21, ST5
	WA13-16, WA3
	WF1-4, WF6
	WN2t WN4
	WS13,WS15
	Y023

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the economic benefits are of phase 2 of High Speed 2 to constituents in Stone;
	(2)  whether his Department has assessed the economic effect of Phase 2 of High Speed 2 on the Staffordshire area; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Phase Two of High Speed 2 will transform journey times, capacity and connectivity between major cities of the north, midlands and London enabling northern regions to fulfil their economic potential. Journey time improvements will be possible from new classic-compatible high speed trains serving Cumbria, while the Staffordshire area, including Stone, will continue to benefit from the high speed services delivered by Phase One of the scheme. HS2 will also free up space for additional commuter, regional and freight services on the west coast mainline offering more opportunity for services to meet local needs. Latest estimates published in August 2012 suggest HS2 will deliver net benefits of £64 billion including over £15 billion in wider economic impacts. If local areas seize the opportunity offered by HS2 these benefits could be greater. HS2 Ltd will undertake further work to assess the sub- national, regional and local economic impacts of HS2.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the estimated effect on land and property values of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: The Government has used various modelling assumptions in order to develop HS2 property compensation policy. It would not be in the public interest to provide details of key modelling assumptions and related outputs, because such details are likely to be misrepresented and to mislead prospective property buyers. This would risk undermining local property markets and creating unnecessary property blight.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  with reference to the compensation arrangements set up for phase 2 of High Speed 2, on what basis his Department will be compensating those affected; on what timescale; and based on what valuations such compensation will be paid;
	(2)  when he will run a public consultation exercise on the compensation provisions and Exceptional Hardship scheme for those living on or near to the proposed route for Phase 2 of the High Speed 2;
	(3)  what compensation will be available to deal with unforeseen circumstances of High Speed 2 affecting (a) businesses, (b) farming businesses and (c) residents in the vicinity.

Simon Burns: A public consultation on the proposed exceptional hardship scheme (EHS) for Phase Two of HS2 has now begun. It will run until 29 April 2013. The consultation document can be found on HS2 Ltd's website at
	http://www.hs2.org.uk/have-your-say/consultations/phase-two

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the contractors who gave advice to his Department on the proposals for Phase 2 of High Speed 2 obtained access to the land from landowners.

Simon Burns: Contractors only used publically accessible land when undertaking any external visits to proposed line of route options.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) top and (b) average speed projected for trains on the High Speed 2 Birmingham to Manchester route from Streethay to Hough will be.

Simon Burns: The route from Streethay to Hough has been timetabled to operate at 200 miles per hour (320 kph) but would be capable of reaching a maximum operating speed of 225 miles per hour (360 kph). The design of the route through the entirety of this area would be capable of up to 250 miles per hour (400 kph).

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the public sector jobs created to promote High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 21 January 2013, Official Report, columns 61-62W.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) existing purchases of properties accepted onto the High Speed 2 Exceptional Hardship scheme have been completed and (b) projected purchases of properties will be accepted onto the High Speed 2 Exceptional Hardship scheme.

Simon Burns: On 30 January 2013, the number of purchases completed through the Exceptional Hardship scheme was 65.
	The Government has used various modelling assumptions in order to assess HS2 property compensation policy options against each other on a consistent basis. It would not be in the public interest to provide details of key modelling assumptions and related outputs, because such details are likely to be misrepresented and to mislead prospective property buyers. This would risk undermining local property markets and creating unnecessary property blight.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the expenditure on the voluntary purchase zone as part of the proposed compensation scheme for High Speed 2 on the route sections running from Streethay to Hough.

Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1010W.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding (a) his Department and (b) other Departments have allocated to planning and preparation for High Speed 2 to 2015; how much of this funding has been spent; and on what activities such funding has been spent.

Simon Burns: The funding allocated for preparation and planning of HS2 by the Department for Transport and High Speed Two Ltd and actual spend by those bodies to date is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Pre 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Total Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual 
			 Resource(1) 76.8 59.5 169.3 (2)120.6 151.2 — 213.1 — 
			 Capital(4) 105.0 29.8 137.5 (3)24.7 132.5 — 132.5 — 
			 (1) Includes programme and administration spend. (2) Actual spend to date: April-December 2012. (3) Actual spend to date: April-December 2012. (4) Includes spending on the Exceptional Hardship and Property Compensation schemes.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of those parts of Phase 2 of High Speed 2 on proposals relating to Stone constituency, what consultation took place and on what basis those carrying out those investigations formed their judgements.

Simon Burns: In developing their route and station options, HS2 Ltd carried out confidential engagement with delivery partners around station locations. The engagement undertaken is set out in published reports. The consultation on the Secretary of State for Transport's preferred route will start later this year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected (a) top and (b) average speed is for trains on the High Speed 2 extension to Leeds passing Hockley and Stonydelph in Tamworth.

Simon Burns: The High Speed 2 extension to Leeds passing Hockley and Stonydelph in Tamworth has been timetabled to operate at 206.25 miles per hour (330 kph) but would be capable of reaching a maximum operating speed of 225 miles per hour (360 kph). The design of the route through the entirety of this area would be capable of up to 250 miles per hour (400 kph).

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Norman Baker: The average cost per member of staff and the total cost of overtime payments in the Department for Transport and each of its arm's length bodies is shown in the table below.
	
		
			  Average cost per member of staff Total cost of overtime payments 
			  Department for Transport Arms Length Bodies Department for Transport Arms Length Bodies 
			 2010/11 £1,116.87 £275.58 £16,727,916.87 £870,258.37 
			 2011/12 £1,176.11 £432.06 £16,753,046.47 £835,448.51 
			 2012/YTD £850.18 £214.54 £10,327,467.06 £651,172.00

Public Transport: Disability

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which external organisations he has consulted and what recent representations he has received on access to transport for blind, partially-sighted and disabled people to inform the high level output statement for control period 5.

Norman Baker: The High Level Output Statement includes £100 million to extend the Access for All programme until 2019 from its scheduled close in 2015. Officials have met with Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies as well as some individual operators to discuss details of how the funding will be allocated and the future governance of the programme. It has also been discussed at meetings attended representatives of the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee, Passenger Focus, Welsh Assembly Government and Transport Scotland. These discussions are ongoing.
	A number of representations have also been received from Members of Parliament and private individuals suggesting stations for the programme. Nominated stations will be considered along with other currently inaccessible stations across the country.

Shipping

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government is making for ensuring that Maritime Labour Certificates and Declarations of Maritime Labour Compliance issued to UK-registered ships will be recognised and accepted in the ports of other ratifying states prior to the official date of entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention in the UK.

Stephen Hammond: The UK supported adoption by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control of Resolution XVII of the 94th Maritime Labour Conference concerning the practical implementation of the issue of certificates on entry into force. The resolution urges port states to take a lenient view of ships which do not have Maritime Labour Certificates, but otherwise comply with convention standards, for 12 months after the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 comes into force.

Shipping

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to bring Merchant Shipping UK legislation into line with the International Labour Organisation Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC); and when he plans to ratify the MLC.

Stephen Hammond: The Government is working towards making the necessary changes to bring UK legislation into line with the convention so as to permit the convention to be ratified by the UK.
	It is the Government's intention that these changes will be made before the convention enters into force on 20 August 2013.

Shipping

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the UK Chamber of Shipping, the Merchant Navy Officers' Union, Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention.

Stephen Hammond: The UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have raised the question of UK ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) with the Department on a number of occasions since 2009. In particular, they have written the following letters to Government stressing the importance to the UK shipping industry of prompt ratification of the MLC by the UK.
	
		
			 Date Correspondence 
			 September 2010 Joint letter from social partners (British Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and RMT) to Mike Penning, Shipping Minister 
			 6 August 2012 Copy of joint letter from social partners (British Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and RMT) to Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise 
			 21 August 2012 Copy of joint letter from social partners (British Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and RMT) to Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise, on the occasion of the 30th country ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 
			 5 December 2012 Copy of Chamber of Shipping letter to Mark Fallon, Minister for Business and Enterprise

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Norman Baker: The Department has no senior servants with their main place of employment as their home address, nor whom would be eligible to claim travel from their home address to their place of work.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Norman Baker: There are 5 senior officials in the Department's arm's length bodies have terms of employment during 2012-13 that specify their main place of employment as their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Norman Baker: None of the chairs in the Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Norman Baker: There is one senior official in the Department's arm's-length bodies who is paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

NORTHERN IRELAND

National Crime Agency

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to discuss with the Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive the role of the National Crime Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), has spoken regularly to the Minister of Justice about the National Crime Agency, most recently on 29 January 2013. She will continue to work with him to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland benefit as much as possible from the creation of the National Crime Agency.

National Crime Agency

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she plans to have with the Home Secretary on the role of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), is in close touch with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), about her plans for the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland. She will be working with her to ensure that the Crime and Courts Bill reflects the expressed wishes of the Northern Ireland Executive and provides the best possible protection for the people of Northern Ireland.

National Crime Agency

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on achieving a legislative consent motion with respect to the operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.

Michael Penning: The Northern Ireland Executive has not agreed to pursue a legislative consent motion for the National Crime Agency. It is regrettable that despite significant changes and consultation, all parties were not able to give their support.

Plants

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since her appointment.

Michael Penning: The Northern Ireland Office has spent £289.42 on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since the appointment of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers). The expenditure relates primarily to upkeep at Hillsborough Castle which is owned by my Department.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior officials in her Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Michael Penning: No senior officials in my Department have or have had during 2012-13 terms of employment which specify that their main place of employment is their home address.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior officials in her Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Michael Penning: No senior officials in the Northern Ireland Office's arm’s length bodies have terms of employment which specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm’s length body.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many chairs in her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Michael Penning: No chairmen of the Northern Ireland Office's arm’s length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the main offices of the arm’s length body.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior officials of her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Michael Penning: No senior officials in the Northern Ireland Office's arms length bodies are paid travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the main offices of the arms length body.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of taxpayers affected by the changes in child benefit entitlement on 7 January 2013 who have annual incomes of (a) between £50,000 and £60,000 and (b) above £60,000 in each (i) nation and region of the UK and (ii) parliamentary constituency; and what the average change in annual income was in each case.

David Gauke: An individual's entitlement to child benefit is not affected by the introduction of the high income child benefit charge. Entitlement to child benefit will remain even if an individual decides to stop receiving child benefit as a result of the charge.
	(a) HMRC estimates that approximately 300,000 households affected by the high income child benefit charge contain at least one individual with an income of between £50,000 and £60,000 per annum in England. Information for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the regions and parliamentary constituencies is not available due to the small sample size.
	(b) HMRC estimates that approximately 700,000 households affected by the high income child benefit charge contain at least one individual with an income of above £60,000 per annum in England. Of these, around 200,000 are estimated to be resident in the London region, and a further 200,000 are estimated to be resident in the south east region. Information for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the remaining English regions and parliamentary constituencies is not available due to the small sample size.
	HMRC estimates that the total number of households affected by the high income child benefit charge in Scotland in 2012-13 is 100,000 though this cannot be broken down by income level due to the small sample size.
	All figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000.

Public Sector: East Midlands

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount spent on redundancy payments made to former public sector employees in (a) Nottingham and (b) the East Midlands since May 2010.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury does not hold this information.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many occasions the chief executive of HM Revenue and Customs has had meetings with (a) Ministers, (b) Shadow Ministers and (c) hon. Members in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The chief executive of HM Revenue and Customs has meetings and discussions with a wide variety of authorities as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of letters to HM Revenue and Customs remained unanswered in each quarter of the last three years.

David Gauke: HMRC does not count letters separately from other incoming post such as certain forms, faxes and e-mail.
	The number and proportion of post items (including letters) to HMRC from customers which remained unanswered at the end of each quarter for the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			 Quarter ended Post unanswered at quarter end Percentage of post received unanswered at quarter end 
			 December 2012 320,033 8 
			 September 2012 456,885 10 
			 June 2012 550,109 11 
			 March 2012 785,394 14 
			 December 2011 686,685 12 
			 September 2011 664,981 11 
			 June 2011 1,042,704 16 
			 March 2011 1,034,397 19 
			 December 2010 915,813 18 
			 September 2010 1,488,668 27 
			 June 2010 1,493,804 25 
			 March 2010 1,322,901 25 
			 December 2009 947,753 20 
		
	
	The 320,033 items of post on hand in HMRC at the end of December 2012 represents approximately one week’s receipts.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of telephone calls were answered by HM Revenue and Customs in less than (a) five minutes, (b) 10 minutes, (c) 15 minutes and (d) 20 minutes in each quarter of the last three years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs went unanswered in each quarter of the last three years.

David Gauke: The data requested on calls answered within five to 20 minutes prior to Quarter 3 (Q3) 2011 are unobtainable in the timescales requested. Details of the calls answered within five to 20 minutes from Q3 2011 are as follows:
	
		
			  Volume and percentage of calls answered within a five minute queue Volume and percentage of calls answered within a 10 minute queue Volume and percentage of calls answered within a 15 minute queue Volume and percentage of calls answered within a 20 minute queue 
			  Percentage Volume Percentage Volume Percentage Volume Percentage Volume 
			 2010-11         
			 Q3 75 7,350,560 91 8,966,098 98 9,650,607 99.8 9,786,150 
			 Q4 61 7,203,300 74 8,712,684 89 10,423,853 97 11,386,265 
			          
			 2011-12         
			 Q1 56 6,390,178 77 8,875,295 92 10,531,911 98 11,199,023 
			 Q2 62 7,369,507 80 9,447,813 93 11,080,673 98 11,662,934 
			 Q3 76 6,663,073 89 7,821,216 95 8,379,921 98 8,643,964 
		
	
	
		
			 Q4 66 7,112,310 78 8,461,378 87 9,390,464 94 10,151,717 
			          
			 2012-13         
			 Q1 53 5,517,990 71 7,383,111 86 8,921,719 93 9,747,838 
			 Q2 62 6,859,129 77 8,519,548 90 9,963,570 97 10,768,261 
			 Q3 91 7,786,781 96 8,247,165 99 8,457,628 99.7 8,532,059 
		
	
	Details of the proportion of telephone calls unanswered in each quarter over the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Volume of call attempts Volume of calls not handled Percentage of calls not handled 
			 2009-10 22,539,900 6,288,068 27.9 
			 Q4    
			     
			 2010-11    
			 Q1 37,358,964 21,356,222 57.2 
			 Q2 46,195,346 30,504,415 66.0 
			 Q3 15,932,586 4,039,789 25.4 
			 Q4 22,059,072 7,277,770 33.0 
			 2010-11 121,545,968 63,178,196 52.0 
			     
			 2011-12    
			 Q1 21,780,515 6,433,464 29.5 
			 Q2 21,829,999 5,805,134 26.6 
			 Q3 14,968,539 2,740,020 •18.3 
			 Q4 19,983,417 5,152,453 25.8 
			 2011-12 78,562,470 20,131,071 25.6 
			     
			 2012-13    
			 Q1 22,126,296 7,282,743 32.9 
			 Q2 23,829,789 8,590,951 36.1 
			 Q3 12,349,247 793,328 6.4 
			 2012-13 year to date 58,305,332 16,667,022 28.6 
		
	
	HMRC has been formally reporting on call waiting distributions since April 2012. Complete data for earlier months are not always available and cannot be easily recreated. The tables are based on all data available, but will not be consistent with previously reported data on average speed of answer.

UK Membership of EU

Wayne David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings have been sought with (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in his Departments by (i) Ministers, special advisers and civil servants in other Departments, (ii) representatives of the European Commission or other European institutions and (iii) representatives of governments of the member states of the European Union to discuss renegotiation of Britain's terms of membership of the EU; and how many have taken place.

Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers and officials engage with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

EDUCATION

Adoption

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the role of voluntary adoption agencies in recruiting adopters.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 21 January 2013
	The Government believes that Voluntary Adoption Agencies are an essential part of the adopter recruitment system. To ensure the Department's adoption reform programme is informed by the expertise contained within the voluntary sector, members of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA UK) are a part of the expert working group that advises the Department on its adoption reform programme.
	The CVAA's Sector Performance report for England for 2011-2012 reported that Voluntary Adoption Agencies placed 20% more children with adoptive families than in the previous year—611 in comparison to 510. Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of Voluntary Adoption Agencies to discuss how the sector can work with the Government to improve and increase the recruitment and approval of adopters. To this end, the Department has announced a £1 million grant to the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies to enable it to pump-prime local Voluntary Adoption Agencies to recruit more adopters.

Adoption

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what role he plans for voluntary adoption agencies in recruiting adopters and tackling the shortage of adopters.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 21 January 2013
	The Government's current adoption reform programme will help all adoption agencies make improvements to their services and increase the number of adopters they recruit. We have proposed a more streamlined adopter approval process and commissioned market research into attitudes, motivations and barriers to adoption to support the recruitment of adopters. We have also announced improvements to adoption support and launched the National Gateway for Adoption, which is an information line providing accurate advice to people interested in adoption.
	We welcome the commitment from the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies to increase the number of children placed with Voluntary Adoption Agency approved adoptive families by 20% each year for the next three years. We are committed to continuing to work with Voluntary Adoption Agencies to make sure that all the children who need adoption can swiftly find loving homes. In particular, we welcome recent signs that local authority representatives are seriously considering raising the level of the fee paid by one local authority to another to that charged by Voluntary Adoption Agencies. This will remove a significant barrier to greater Voluntary Adoption Agency participation in the system.
	In addition, the Department has announced a £1 million grant to the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies to enable it to pump-prime local Voluntary Adoption Agencies to recruit more adopters.

Adoption

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children (a) were placed for adoption, (b) were adopted and (c) started to be looked after due to the breakdown of an adoptive family in each year since 2003.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of looked after children who were (a) placed for adoption and (b) adopted for the years ending 31 March 2003 to 2012 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Children looked after at 31 March who were (a) placed for adoption in the year ending 31 March or (b) adopted during the year ending 31 March, years ending 31 March 2003 to 2012, coverage: England 
			 Number 
			  All looked after children who were placed for adoption during the year ending 31 March(1, 2) All looked after children who were adopted during the year ending 31 March(1, 2) 
			 2003 3,790 3,540 
			 2004 3,610 3,760 
			 2005 3,440 3,770 
			 2006 3,020 3,700 
			 2007 2,710 3,330 
			 2008 2,860 3,180 
			 2009 2,680 3,330 
			 2010 2,510 3,200 
			 2011 2,710 3,090 
			 2012 2,680 3,450 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. Source: SSDA 903 
		
	
	Information on the number of children who started to be looked after following the breakdown of an adoptive family is not currently available. Information on children who return to care following the breakdown of a previous adoption will be collected for the first time in 2014.

Children: Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what pilot schemes his Department is funding to improve the care of child victims of human trafficking.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education (DFE) is supporting a Barnardo's project through an investment of £1.4 million over two years from 2011-12 to 2012-13. This project is developing specialised foster care placements for victims of trafficking and child sexual exploitation, and a high quality two day training course for foster carers.
	The DFE is currently considering applications from voluntary and community sector organisations for grants for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Schools: Freedom of Expression

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on freedom of speech for staff in schools who are opposed to same sex marriage of the case between Mr Adrian Smith and Trafford Housing Trust.

David Laws: The Government's proposals for equal marriage do not change anything about freedom of speech for staff. Schools have a responsibility to educate children, and not to impose the opinions of teachers or politicians on them.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people he plans to recruit into the Civil Service Fast Stream in 2013 in Scotland.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 17 January 2013, Official Report, column 935W, to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Tom Blenkinsop).

Cleveland Fire Brigade

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  who drafted the Invitation for Tender issued in December 2012 for the Mutual Support Programme for Cleveland Fire Brigade;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation to tender for support provision under his Department's Mutuals Support Programme for Cleveland Fire Brigade;
	(3)  whether he will place in the Library all correspondence between (a) his Department, (b) the Government Procurement Service, (c) Cleveland Fire Brigade and (d) Cleveland Fire Authority about the drafting of the invitation to tender for Cleveland Fire Brigade's mutual support programme.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office Mutuals Support Programme details all the support it provides on its website at:
	http://mutuals.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	Invitations to tender were drafted by Cabinet Office officials and representatives of Cleveland Fire Brigade. Copies have been placed in the Library, but are also published on the Contracts Finder website.
	In line with the practice of previous Administrations such correspondence is not normally disclosed.

Cybercrime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment he has made of the potential cost to (a) the public purse, (b) businesses and (c) individual citizens of breaches of cyber security.

Chloe Smith: holding answer 4 February 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), on 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 418W.

Efficiency and Reform Group

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the budget is of the Efficiency and Reform Group in each of the next three years;
	(2)  what reforms have been recommended by the Efficiency and Reform Group to date; and how many of those reforms had been implemented by 13 January 2013.

Francis Maude: The Efficiency and Reform Group budget is published annually as part of the Main Supply Estimates and this is then updated in the Supplementary Estimates. Main Supply Estimates 2012-13 were published on 19 April 2012 (HC1919) and it is expected that the Supplementary Estimates 2012-13 will be published during the week commencing 11 February 2013.
	The Efficiency and Reform Group has helped Departments to make a host of reforms which have transformed Whitehall. Since the General Election it has supported Departments in making savings for the taxpayer of over £12 billion of savings.

Employment: East Sussex

Amber Rudd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people in (a) Hastings and Rye constituency and (b) East Sussex were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking, what proportion of people in (a) Hastings and Rye constituency and (b) East Sussex were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years. (141610)
	Employment statistics for local areas are calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates of people employed in the third sector are currently not available from APS. Individuals employed in voluntary organisations, charities and trusts are included in private sector estimates.
	Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on a National Accounts' definition and are not available for areas smaller than regions.
	The tables show the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years, who were employed in the public or private sector along with those who were unemployed or inactive, resident in Hastings and Rye constituency and East Sussex. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period October 2011 to September 2012, the latest period available, and the 12 month periods ending in December from 2008 to 2011. It should also be noted that the estimates also include people who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table. The Table will be stored in the Library of the House.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOM13 website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Employment: East Yorkshire

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency and (b) East Yorkshire were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking, what proportion of people in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency and (b) East Yorkshire were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years. (141381)
	Employment statistics for local areas are calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates of people employed in the third sector are currently not available from APS. Individuals employed in voluntary organisations, charities and trusts are included in private sector estimates.
	Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on a National Accounts' definition and are not available for areas smaller than regions.
	The tables show the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years, who were employed in the public or private sector along with those who were unemployed or inactive, resident in Haltemprice and Howden constituency and the East Riding of Yorkshire. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period October 2011 to September 2012, the latest period available, and the 12 month periods ending in December from 2008 to 2011. It should also be noted that the estimates also include people who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the tables, which will be stored in the Library of the House.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Employment: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking, what proportion of people in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire were employed in the (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) third sector in each of the last five years. (141838)
	Employment statistics for local areas are calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates of people employed in the third sector are currently not available from APS. Individuals employed in voluntary organisations, charities and trusts are included in private sector estimates.
	Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on a National Accounts' definition and are not available for areas smaller than regions.
	The tables show the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years, who were employed in the public or private sector along with those who were unemployed or inactive, resident in Pendle constituency and Lancashire. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period October 2011 to September 2012, the latest period available, and the 12 month periods ending in December from 2008 to 2011. It should be noted that the estimates also include people who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table. The tables will be stored in the Library of the House.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Chloe Smith: Procurement cards were introduced in 1997 but in the past there was no consistent approach to monitoring them or controlling procurement spend. By clamping down on waste, making procurement smarter and slashing the use of these cards, we saved the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds since May 2010. And information on procurement card use is now published for everyone to see and scrutinise.
	Since May 2010 we have tightened the controls on the use of cards and implemented new cross Whitehall standards, a taskforce to tackle fraud, and a group that monitors the spend and activity on cards.
	The average spend per GPC cardholder in the Cabinet Office in 2011 was £1,023,11, and £804.74 in 2012.
	The information for the department's arm's length bodies is not held centrally.

Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if he will publish the location of the 175 evidence gathering events that the Office for National Statistics held in developing the measurement of well-being;
	(2)  with which policymakers and academics the Office for National Statistics has collaborated with in developing a measure of well-being;
	(3)  what international collaboration the Office for National Statistics has developed on the subject of well-being;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of trends on well-being at work.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated 1 February 2013
	As Director-General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office to provide further details relating to work of the Measuring National Well-being (MNW) Programme. Each of your questions is answered separately, combining the questions on collaboration.
	1. To ask the Minister for the Cabinet, if he will publish the location of the 175 evidence gathering events that the Office for National Statistics held in developing the measurement of well-being (141418).
	Information pertaining to the location and nature of the 175 events during the Measuring National Well-being National Debate were published on the Office for National Statistics website in July 2011. This information can be found in Annex A of the ‘Findings from the National Well-being Debate—July 2011’ report at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/well-being/publications/index.html
	2. To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with which policymakers and academics the Office for National Statistics has collaborated with in developing a measure of well-being. (141419) and To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what international collaboration the Office for National Statistics has developed on the subject of well-being (141420)
	The Measuring National Well-being Programme has collaborated with policy makers, academics and the international stakeholders from the start of the programme in November 2010.
	The development of well-being measures has been discussed at engagements with policy makers through two groups: the ‘Well-being Policy Steering Group’ (hosted by Cabinet Office) of which the National Statistician is a member and the ‘Social Impacts Task Force’ (hosted by HM Treasury) of which the Deputy Programme Director is a member.
	In early 2011 the Programme Director and the Programme Sponsor (the National Statistician) convened two advisory groups: the ‘MNW Advisory Forum’ and the ‘MNW Advisory Group’. The membership of these groups includes academics, policy makers, international stakeholders, third sector, other government departments and think tanks. These groups have provided advice and technical expertise to aid the delivery of measures and methodological approaches. Membership details for these groups can be found at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/well-being/advisory-groups/index.html
	The Programme has collaborated heavily with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who are driving forward the measurement of progress across the European Union and further afield. In addition, the Programme has collaboratedclosely with Eurostat (i.e. Expert Group on ‘Quality of Life’) and UN SEEA Ecosystem Accounting Group in taking forward the well-being and environmental agendas.
	3. To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of trends on wellbeing at work (141518)
	The Measuring National Well-being Programme has not carried out any assessment of trends on well-being at work to date.
	Due to the size of this document it will be stored in the Library of the House.

ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the top 20 ICT suppliers to his Department were in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Nick Hurd: This Government are committed to transparency, and since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award:
	https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Infrastructure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to encourage private owners of critical national infrastructure to increase its resilience.

Chloe Smith: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The UK's National Security Strategy and the UK's Strategy for Countering Terrorism (CONTEST) both identify the importance of ensuring the security and resilience of our most important infrastructure.
	The Cabinet Office works with other Government Departments, intelligence agencies, regulators and trade bodies to encourage owners and operators of 'Critical National Infrastructure' to improve their resilience by identifying risks, assessing vulnerabilities and encouraging proportionate mitigation measures.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Francis Maude: Overtime payments have fallen significantly since before the last General Election. This should be seen in the context of the work—led by my Department's Efficiency and Reform Group since May 2010—to drive savings from across Whitehall which has so far saved the taxpayer over £12 billion.
	Average overtime costs in the Cabinet Office in 2009-10 were £989. In 2010-11 they were £703 and in 2011-12 they were £662.
	Total overtime payments have also been down every year since the General Election, compared with 2009-10. Last year they were £1.14 million, and in 2010-11 they were £1.16 million.
	Figures for 2012-13 will be released in due course. Data for arm’s length bodies is not held centrally.

Pay

Amber Rudd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average annual salary was for (a) men and (b) women in full-time employment in (i) Hastings and Rye constituency, (ii) East Sussex, (iii) the South East and (iv) England in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average annual salary was for (a) men and (b) women in full-time employment in (i) Hastings and Rye constituency, (ii) East Sussex, (iii) the South East and (iv) England in each of the last five years. (141611)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Annual levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job for more than a year.
	The following table shows the median gross annual earnings for employee jobs in (i) Hastings and Rye constituency, (ii) East Sussex local authority, (iii) the South East and (iv) England for full-time males and full-time females, for each year from 2008 to 2012.
	
		
			 Median gross annual earnings (£)—for employee jobs(1) in (i) Hastings and Rye constituency, (ii) East Sussex local authority, (iii) the South East and (iv) England, for full-time males and full-time females from 2008-12 
			  Hastings and Rye constituency East Sussex local authority South East England 
			  Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 2008(2) **20,692 **18,705 *23,230 **19,486 29,882 22,468 28,023 21,792 
			 2009(2) **22,413 **18,065 *24,872 **19,717 30,373 22,997 28,657 22,402 
			 2010(2) **24,952 *19,417 25,083 *20,967 30,423 23,247 28,552 22,780 
			 2011(2) **25,066 **20,957 *25,642 *21,320 30,748 23,446 28,833 23,069 
			 2011(3) **25,004 **20,350 *25,775 *21,006 30,949 23,194 28,817 22,831 
		
	
	
		
			 2012(3) **22,858 **21,219 *24,378 *22,333 31,194 24,000 29,102 23,321 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates who have been in the same job for more than one year. (2) Results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000. (3) Results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: CV =5% * CV >5% and =10% ** CV>10% and =20% CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey and Annual Labour Force Survey

Pay: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average salary was in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency for (i) women and (ii) men in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average salary was in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency for (i) women and (ii) men in each of the last three years for which figures are available. (141711)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Annual levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job for more than a year.
	The following table shows the median gross annual earnings for all male and all female employee jobs in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency, for each year from 2010 to 2012.
	
		
			 Median gross annual earnings (£) for all male and all female employee jobs(1) in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency, from 2010-12 
			  Scotland Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency 
			  Male Female Male Female 
			 2010(2) 25,610 16,500 *23,897 **16,489 
			 2011(2) 25,470 16,521 **21,598 **16,184 
			 2011(3) 25,303 16,326 **21,340 **15,844 
			 2012(3) 25,836 16,760 **22,864 **16,776 
			 (1 )Employees on adult rates who have been in the same job for more than one year. (2 )Results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000. (3 )Results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: CV <= 5% * CV > 5% and <= 10% ** CV>10% and <=20% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics.

Public Sector: East Midlands

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public sector jobs have been lost in (a) Nottingham and (b) the East Midlands since May 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public sector jobs have been lost in (a) Nottingham and (b) the East Midlands since May 2010. (141581)
	ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions for areas smaller than the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS).
	Information regarding jobs lost is not available. As an alternative we have provided estimates of the change in number of people who were employed in the public sector according to survey responses.
	Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on a National Accounts' definition and are not available for areas smaller than regions.
	The following table shows the number of people who were employed in the public sector during the 12 month periods ending June 2010, the survey period closest to May 2010, and September 2012 the latest period available, along with the net change between these two periods.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of people employed in the public sector 
			 Thousand 
			 12 months ending June 2010 September2012 Change between 12 month periods ending June 2010 and September 2012 
			 Nottingham 34 34 (1)— 
			 East Midlands 517 463 -53 
			 (1) Less than 500 Note: All estimates are independently rounded. Source: Annual Population Survey

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices;
	(2)  how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Francis Maude: The details requested are not held centrally.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(2)  how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally within the Cabinet Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet representatives of Polisario to discuss the security situation in Algeria and that part of Western Sahara under their control.

Alistair Burt: We have no current plans to meet representatives of the Polisario to discuss the security situation in Algeria. However, officials have met representatives of Polisario to discuss Western Sahara.

Babar Ahmed

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and assistance the Government has provided to the family of Babar Ahmed.

Alistair Burt: Consular staff are in contact with Mr Ahmad and his family and are providing consular assistance to them. However, due to consular confidentiality we cannot share full details of consular cases with third parties, including hon. and right hon. Members if not authorised to do so by the individual who is receiving consular assistance. Details of the assistance we provide to British nationals detained in the United States of America are provided on our website:
	http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/arrested

British Nationals Abroad: Capital Punishment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on contributing to the costs of appeals for British nationals on death row.

Mark Simmonds: It is the policy of the British Government not to pay for legal representation for British nationals overseas. However, we can assist British nationals in identifying potential legal representation in a number of ways, including by providing a list of local lawyers and by working closely with non-governmental organisations with experience of death penalty cases.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what residency rights UK citizens have in other European countries beyond those which derive from membership of the EU and the European economic area.

David Lidington: UK citizens' rights to live and work in other EU and European economic area (EEA) countries are part of their rights to free movement, derived from EU and EEA membership.

Croatia

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what transitional arrangements will be in place for the planned accession of Croatia to the European Union.

David Lidington: Croatia has agreed a limited number of transitional arrangements with the EU, which are publicly available—listed in Annex 5 of the treaty of accession. Recognising that in some areas it is reasonable to provide a "phase-in" period, many of the transitional arrangements permit a delay in application of the acquis in specific technical areas for a set period of time to enable Croatia to come into full alignment with the EU's rules while ensuring the continued functioning of the single market upon its accession.
	The arrangements for Croatia include: transitional arrangements on the free movement of persons by which other member states can apply transitional arrangements restricting Croatian nationals' access to their labour markets for up to five years and for a further two years in the event of serious labour market disturbance; additional time for Croatia to meet the EU's environmental standards; an adjustment period to enable certain Croatian producers that do not yet meet the single market's rules to continue to market their products in Croatia only; and temporary arrangements that will enable the operation of the border crossing at Neum of Croatian goods transiting Bosnia and Herzegovina that re-enter Croatian territory. In addition, the Croatian accession treaty includes transitional arrangements to enable the ceiling on MEP numbers to be temporarily lifted for the remainder of the 2009 to 2014 term to allow for an additional 12 Croatian MEPs.
	The Government is committed to applying transitional restrictions on workers from all future accessions to the European Union and will apply such restrictions to Croatian nationals from 1 July 2013. Regulations implementing such restrictions, which will restrict Croatian nationals' access to the labour market to skilled workers, will be laid before Parliament in due course. The Home Office published a Statement of Intent in October 2012 which can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/immigration/croatia-eu-accession/?view=Standard&pubID=1081807

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo on local government elections in that country.

Mark Simmonds: The lack of provincial and local elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a matter of concern. Since the DRC's presidential and parliamentary elections in November last year, the British ambassador and his staff have regularly underlined to the DRC Government, including to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), that we support the recommendations of the EU election observation mission report. This includes the provision that the DRC Government should hold provincial and local elections within reasonable deadlines and in the best possible conditions. We welcome the passage in January 2013 of election reform legislation by the National Assembly, and hope that early and effective implementation of the legislation, including the appointment of new CENI leadership, will pave the way to early and high quality local and provincial elections.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on why a peace and security framework for the Great Lakes Region was not signed at the recent African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

Mark Simmonds: The UK regards the Peace and Security Framework as the potential basis for future action by regional governments, and the international community, to ensure that long-term peace and stability arc established in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We are disappointed that negotiations were not concluded in time for the framework to be signed at the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa. Negotiations on it continue. We remain in close touch with all the parties involved and are urging them to conclude their discussions soon.

Hezbollah

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Hezbollah's involvement in the Burgas terror attack.

Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned by indications that Hezbollah was involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas. Once the official Bulgarian investigation has concluded, the EU will need to decide how to respond. Based on our national proscription, we believe there is a strong case for action against the military wing of Hezbollah. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), is in discussions with his EU counterparts on this issue as is the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May).

Hezbollah

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on adding Hezbollah to the list of EU-proscribed organisations.

Alistair Burt: We believe there is a strong case for EU designation of the military wing of Hezbollah under the EU's terrorism asset freezing regime. We are actively discussing this with our EU partners.

Israel

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government on child prisoners.

Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about the treatment of Palestinian children under the Israeli military court system. We continue to lobby the Israeli authorities for improvements, including a reduction in the number of arrests that occur at night, an end to shackling and the introduction of audio-visual recording of interrogations.
	We welcomed Israel's decision of 4 October 2011 to raise the age of legal majority for Palestinian children in the Israeli military justice system, a step we had advocated. I raised the implementation of this decision with the Israel ambassador on 23 February.
	In addition to our lobbying of the Israeli authorities, we also funded and facilitated an independent report into the issue of child detainees by leading British lawyers:
	http://www.childreninmilitarycustody.org/report/
	We are urging the Israeli Government to take forward the recommendations from this report. Our ambassador to Israel has discussed the report's findings with the Israeli Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General and with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we will continue this dialogue. I have written to the Israeli ambassador to urge Israel to take action on the report and have discussed follow-up to the report with the right hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC. The Attorney-General, during his visit to Israel in November 2012, discussed the report with his Israeli counterpart who agreed to further detailed talks between Israeli and British officials on the recommendations.

Israel

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at the UN regarding the imposition of an arms' embargo against Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has not been involved in any recent discussions at the UN regarding an arms embargo against Israel and the Occupied Palestinians Territories.
	The UK maintains a rigorous and transparent arms export control system, whereby all applications are assessed on a case by case basis, against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. The criteria make clear our commitment to assess the risk of exports being used for internal repression or to provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate existing tensions or conflict in the country of final destination. We apply these criteria rigorously, including with respect to Israel.
	At the same time, Israel faces some very real security threats and I do not believe that imposing a blanket arms embargo on Israel would either increase our influence or promote progress in the peace process.

Languages

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which language courses are made available to his Department's employees.

Alistair Burt: In support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) diplomatic excellence initiative we are aiming to significantly strengthen language skills throughout the FCO. This includes ensuring that our language training is targeted carefully to enable officials to perform their various roles effectively.
	All UK-based FCO staff appointed to language 'speaker' slots overseas, where the ability to communicate effectively in the host country's language is considered essential to undertaking their role, are entitled to language training.
	Staff posted overseas to roles where there is not an essential language requirement, but where the native language is not English, are also entitled to some training geared towards working and living in that country. We currently deliver training in up to 80 different languages every year including those languages which are a priority for the FCO e.g. Mandarin, Arabic and Russian.
	We have recently expanded our range of language training classes offered to all members of the FCO. These classes are aimed at developing new language skills or maintaining existing ones.
	To strengthen further the quality and consistency of our language training we will open a new language centre in King Charles street in summer 2013. The new centre will be able to accommodate 1,000 students a year, including staff from other Government Departments. It will include facilities for one-on-one and group training, a multi-media suite, and study space. For the first time, we will be able to accommodate all of our students on-site, including the very many FCO staff who study languages part-time.
	All staff also have the opportunity to learn a language via e-learning software.

Mali

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN Security Council on provisions for monitoring troop behaviour in the EU Mali mission.

Mark Simmonds: The UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 2085, which states that any support to Mali should be consistent with international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law. It requests the UN Secretary-General to ensure that the UN presence in Mali observes adherence to these laws and to include any violations in his regular reports to the Security Council.

Mali

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Concept of Operations of the EU supported mission to Mali, what assessment he has made of the degree of separation between military and humanitarian objectives in that operation.

Mark Simmonds: The EU Training Mission (EUTM) Mali will provide military training and advice to the Malian Security and Defence Forces, with the objective of strengthening military capacity to enable government forces to take responsibility for security in Mali. Although it is primarily a military mission, part of the training package will include education on the legal and humanitarian dimensions of conflict, with a particular focus on Human Rights and the Protection of Civilians.
	A programme co-ordinated by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department will separately address humanitarian objectives in Mali. However, the success of humanitarian efforts will be dependent on establishing stability and removing restrictions on access to communities affected by conflict.

Middle East

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at the UN regarding the establishment of weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and other Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have discussed the conference with counterparts in the middle east. The UK statement to the UN General Assembly First Committee on 11 September 2012 made clear our support for the objective of establishing such a zone and our support for the facilitator of the conference, Under-Secretary of State Jaako Laajava of Finland.
	Senior British officials meet regularly with representatives of the UN and the other co-convenors (the United States of America and Russia) to discuss progress and provide support to the appointed facilitator of the conference, Jaakko Laajava of Finland. The British Government supports the objective of a middle east weapons of mass destruction free zone, and the convening of a conference as soon as possible. British Officials have also travelled to the region to promote constructive engagement and support for the work of the facilitator.

North Africa

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent (a) discussions and (b) contacts he or any UK diplomatic representative has had with representatives of Touareg groups in north Africa.

Alistair Burt: In the course of their duties, members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meet with a diverse range of officials and people from north Africa. This includes leaders from various tribes within the north African region including Arab, Berber, Tuareg, and other groups indigenous to the region. We continue to encourage governments to work with their regional neighbours on issues of common interest and concern, including security. We continue to support reform as the path to the region's long-term stability.

North Korea

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support calls to set up a Commission of Enquiry into crimes against humanity in Democratic Republic of North Korea.

Hugo Swire: We agree with the principle that more needs to be done to put pressure on North Korea to improve its appalling human rights record. To this end, we are consulting with partners in the UN about whether to establish an international inquiry into human rights violations in North Korea in the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March.

Occupied Territories

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) Qassam rockets, (b) Grad rockets and (c) mortar bombs launched into Israeli territory from Gaza in 2012; and what reports he has received of the number of persons (i) killed, (ii) seriously injured and (iii) slightly injured in such attacks.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that in 2012 over 2,320 rockets and 230 mortars were launched into Israeli territory from Gaza. We are also aware of reports that there were seven Israeli fatalities, 64 casualties who were seriously injured, and 218 casualties slightly injured following these attacks.
	We have condemned indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Southern Israel and continue to urge all sides to exercise restraint and prevent civilian casualties and loss of life. We believe it is in no one's interest to see further violence in Gaza.

Occupied Territories

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure Hamas renounce violence, recognise the State of Israel and accept previous diplomatic agreements.

Alistair Burt: We do not have any contacts with Hamas. However we continue to make clear in public and to our partners that if Hamas wish to be treated by the UK and the rest of the international community like other Islamist movements in the region, they must first make credible movement towards the conditions of renouncing violence, recognising Israel and accepting previously signed agreements.

Pakistan

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan on persecution and massacres of the Hazaras.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 January 2013, Official Report, column 947W.

Palestinians

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli government on Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed a wide range of issues concerning Palestine and the Middle East Peace Process with the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on 30 November 2012 and the Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on 3 December. Our officials at the embassy in Tel Aviv recently met with the Israeli Government officials and discussed a wide variety of issues pertaining to the Palestinian Authority including the issue of releasing clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority. The UK continues to urge both sides to refrain from any steps that would make the two-state solution, or a return to negotiations, more difficult. 2013 is a crucial year for the Middle East Peace Process if progress is to be made before the window for a two state solution closes.

Palestinians

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent demolition of homes in the villages Al-Maleh and Al-Mayta in the northern Jordan Valley by the Israeli army on the UK's policy on Israel.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that the Israeli authorities declared the villages Al-Maleh and Al-Mayta in the northern Jordan Valley as closed military zones and proceeded with demolition of these villages. We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in the Jordan valley.
	We view these demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	The full range of developments is factored into the UK's policy on Israel. Israel is a strategic partner for the UK but we continue to underline at the highest level our views on the need for substantive progress on the peace process.

Palestinians

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss the recent demolition of homes in the Al-Maleh region of the Jordan Valley by the Israeli army with the Israeli ambassador.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly raised the issue of demolitions in the Jordan Valley with the Israeli authorities. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	The recent demolition of homes in Al-Maleh region of Jordan Valley was raised on 21 January 2012—embassy officials in Tel Aviv raised concerns over the decision, and the impact on the local community with the Israeli Co-ordinator Of Government Activities Territories. I will also continue to discuss issues linked to settlements and demolitions with Israel's ambassador to the UK.

Palestinians

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Israeli government on the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Officials from the British embassy in Tel Aviv raised this issue with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 21 January 2013.
	We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition of their homes or eviction through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.

Palestinians

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Israeli counterparts to urge the government of Israel (a) to reverse the decision of the Israeli military to declare the village of Al-Maleh a closed military zone on 19 January 2013 and (b) to permit aid agencies to provide assistance to the village's residents.

Alistair Burt: Officials from the British embassy in Tel Aviv have raised the situation in Al-Maleh with the Israeli authorities, and the need for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be able to provide assistance to the village's residents. In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli Legal System.

Palestinians

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Israeli counterparts to urge the Israeli government to lift the ban on Palestinian residents of Area C in the Jordan Valley building permanent structures or infrastructure and renovating homes.

Alistair Burt: We are concerned about the demolitions of Palestinian property in Area C in the Jordan Valley, which we consider to be, in all but the most limited cases, contrary to Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law and harmful to the peace process.
	While there is no formal ban in place, the British embassy in Tel Aviv have raised with the Israeli authorities the high refusal rate, under Israel's permit system, for Palestinian residents of Area C who want to build permanent structures and homes.

Palestinians

Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the incidence of arms smuggling into Gaza.

Alistair Burt: Officials at the British embassy in Tel Aviv recently discussed continued arms smuggling into Gaza with Israel's National Security Council. The main diplomatic effort to stop arms smuggling is now the Israeli Government's dialogue with the Egyptian authorities following the November ceasefire.
	The UK has also been actively engaged in international efforts to stop arms smuggling into Gaza. We are an active participant in the Gaza Counter-Arms Smuggling Initiative. This initiative aims to develop an effective framework for international cooperation, supplementary to measures taken by regional states to prevent and interdict the illicit flow of arms, ammunition, and weapons components, to Gaza.

Palestinians

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on whether Hamas will dismantle the Al-Qassam Brigades as part of a reconciliation deal with Fatah; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such a move on the Middle East Peace Process.

Alistair Burt: We have not received any reports on whether Hamas will dismantle the Al-Qassam Brigades. We are continuing to follow closely developments regarding the issue of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, including the recent meeting between President Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mesh'al in Cairo on 9 January.
	The British Government's position and that of the EU remains that Palestinian reconciliation, if agreed on the basis of the principles set out by President Abbas in his speech of 4 May 2011, would be a positive step for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two state solution.

Palestinians

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the implications for the Middle East Peace Process of unity between Fatah and Hamas.

Alistair Burt: We continue to follow closely developments regarding the issue of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, including the recent meeting between President Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mesh'al in Cairo on 9 January. The British Government's position and that of the EU remains that Palestinian reconciliation, if agreed on the basis of the principles set out by President Abbas in his speech of 4 May 2011, would be a positive step for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two state solution.

Palestinians

Jessica Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on incitement.

Alistair Burt: We raise instances of incitement with both the Palestinian Authority and Israel whenever we are aware of serious concerns. The Government opposes the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence in all circumstances.

Palestinians

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his response to the conclusions of the report sponsored by his Department, Children in Military Custody; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We have welcomed the independent report entitled ‘Children in military custody’ and share many of the concerns contained in it. We have passed the report to the Israeli authorities. I have written to the Israeli ambassador to London to urge Israel to take action on the report and the British embassy in Tel Aviv has also raised with the Israeli authorities on a number of occasions. During his visit to Israel in November 2012, the Attorney-General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr Grieve), discussed the report with the Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and other senior interlocutors. Mr Weinstein agreed to further talks between UK and British legal experts on the subject. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed the recommendations and progress on this issue with a senior Israeli legal delegation on 31 January.

Private Military and Security Companies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure UK-based private military companies are fully held to account for their actions when operating in hostile environments.

Mark Simmonds: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement I made on 17 December 2012, Official Report, columns 72-3WS. The UK’s strategy to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights will also look to address the use of private security services and the need to protect against human right abuses by these companies in a range of situations and complex environments overseas.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Alistair Burt: We have assumed that the term senior officials refers to staff in our senior management structure (SMS).
	Our records indicate that one senior official, employed on a fixed term contract, works predominately from home and is entitled to claim travel expenses when visiting departmental offices.
	Our records refer to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) SMS staff only and not to senior officials employed by FCO Services, an Executive Agency of the FCO.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alistair Burt: None of the senior officials in any of our arm's-length bodies have, or have had during 2012-13, terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alistair Burt: One. The chair of the British Council is exempt from this tax liability. The chair of the British Council receives no remuneration for the role and any expenses are claimed and paid in accordance with the British Council's processes and procedures. The postholder does not receive any travel related payments for attending meetings at the primary office of the British Council, however is able to claim for other travel on behalf of the British Council. Reimbursement, in line with the British Council's policy, is based on actual expenditure.
	The British Council policy on travel related expenditure for its chair is based on a statutory dispensation from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs which is available to other organisations and businesses. Claims for reimbursement for travel related- expenditure from the chair while travelling on British Council business are not taxable.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's other arm's-length bodies do not have anyone paid on this basis.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alistair Burt: The British Council policy on claims for travel related expenditure is based on a dispensation from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs which is available to other organisations and businesses. The relevant rates, and limits for claims, are within permissible tax exemptions in the relevant categories. This applies to 56 senior officials of the British Council. Any claims and reimbursement for travel related expenditure from these officials while travelling on British Council business will not be taxable.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's other arm's-length bodies do not have anyone paid on this basis.

HEALTH

Asbestos

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that people continue to be aware of the dangers of inhaling asbestos.

Anna Soubry: The Department has no current activity in this area. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out work to consider how best to build upon the success of its Hidden Killer campaign, which targeted trades people who could be exposed to asbestos as a result of their work. Information on the risks of inhalation of asbestos is available on the HSE, Health Protection Agency and NHS Direct websites. The GOV website also links to local councils in England to provide information about asbestos and its disposal.

Depression: Older People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of volunteering on depression levels in people over 70 years old.

Norman Lamb: We have not carried out any specific assessment into the effects of volunteering on depression levels in people over 70 years of age.
	However, the coalition Government strongly believes that volunteering presents a wealth of opportunities for people to learn new skills, share ideas and experiences and give back to their community. In the case of older people, volunteering can facilitate meaningful interaction with others and reduce social isolation and depression that is so damaging to their health and well-being.
	The Department's strategic vision for volunteering “Social action for health and well-being: building co-operative communities (2011)” recognises the considerable, and often untapped, potential within our communities, identifying where volunteering can add value in terms of quality and outcomes and build community capacity and resilience.
	The Care and Support White Paper, “Caring for our Future (2012)” also sets out a commitment to make it easier for people to contribute to their communities through volunteering and timebanking schemes that help people share time, talents and skills with others in their community, particularly with the most vulnerable people such as the elderly and those experiencing mental health problems.

Golden Jubilee National Hospital Glasgow

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available consultants from England travelled to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Glasgow to carry out surgery.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not collected. Hospital Episode Statistics only covers activity in England. In addition, it is not possible to identify whether a consultant was working away from their ‘home'’ hospital even within England.

Health Services

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of out-of-hours NHS services run by private companies and run directly by NHS organisations.

Anna Soubry: It is not possible for the Department to make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of out-of-hours NHS services run by private companies and those run by NHS organisations.
	All out of hours services must be delivered in line with national quality requirements. Primary care trusts have a legal obligation to ensure they provide, or secure provision of, a high quality, sustainable service for their local population and are responsible for performance managing their providers in the delivery of high quality out-of-hours services.

Lead: Health Hazards

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the effects on human health of exposure to lead from exhaust emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has no plans to commission work on this topic. The current public health significance of exposure to lead from exhaust emissions is considered to be small following the phasing out of lead from petrol. Levels of lead from exhaust emissions have declined by around 98% since 1990. The largest source of lead until 1999 was from anti-knock lead additives in petrol, which was phased out from general sale at the end of 1999.

Mental Health Services: Birmingham

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated for mental health provision in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available, in the format requested. Funding for national health service services is currently allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs). PCTs commission services to meet the health care needs of their local populations; taking account of national and local priorities. From 2013-14, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the allocation of resources to clinical commissioning groups.
	The following table shows the reported spend for adult mental health services in Birmingham by PCT. Data are not available by constituency. Birmingham, Erdington constituency falls within Birmingham East and North PCT.
	
		
			 PCT 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Birmingham East and North 39,246,050 39,335,080 n/a 41,163,890 43,057,230 
			 Heart of Birmingham 49,837,530 48,588,810 n/a 50,847,840 47,699,040 
			 South Birmingham 44,904,980 51,914,070 n/a 54,327,710 51,882,880 
			 Notes: 1. The surveys were commissioned annually by the Department of Health from Mental Health Strategies and published on the Department's website. 2. The survey is non-mandatory and includes some estimated data. 3. Data cover services provided for working age adults (age 18 to 64). 4. Data for 2009-10 are not available as the Birmingham PCTs did not make a return that year. Source: National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services, Mental Health Strategies 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08

Mental Health Services: Birmingham

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham were treated for mental illness in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Available data on the number of adults using national health service specialist mental care in Birmingham metropolitan district in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 April to March each year Mental health service users: persons count 
			 2010-11 27,008 
			 2009-10 26,528 
			 2008-09 28,217 
			 Notes: 1. Data on numbers of people under 18 accessing mental health services is not available. 2. The data relates to number of adults accessing secondary mental health care. The data does not include number of adults treated in primary care. 3. Data are provided at local authority level. Source: Mental Health Minimum Dataset 2010-11, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Mental Health Services: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated for mental health provision in (a) Pendle and (b) Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 19 December 2012, Official Report, columns 851-52W.

Mental Illness: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will estimate the proportion of children with a mental disorder by family social class;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the educational qualifications of the parents of children diagnosed with a mental disorder;
	(3)  what proportion of children with a mental disorder are members of a family which is (a) married, (b) cohabiting, (c) a single lone parent and (d) a widowed lone parent.

Norman Lamb: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Illness: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the prevalence of mental disorder by number of children in household.

Norman Lamb: While this is not collected centrally, the Department has given a commitment to disaggregate data for indicators in the NHS and Public Health Outcomes Framework by inequalities and equalities characteristics where possible, to support local priority setting and enable a sharper focus on inequalities in outcomes.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the amount of funding available to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is determined by his Department on an annual basis;
	(2)  what criteria his Department uses to determine the amount of funding allocated to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Norman Lamb: Funding made available by the Department to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is determined on an annual basis.
	The Department adopts a business planning process for all its arm’s length bodies, including NICE. Annual business plans are developed with consideration to the overall national health service landscape, in alignment with Government priorities and the Department's financial targets. Funding for all arm's length bodies is agreed to ensure statutory duties can be performed alongside agreed priorities.

Nurses: West Midlands

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) district nurses, (b) health visitors, (c) community psychiatric nurses, (d) community matrons and (e) community learning disabilities nurses were employed by the NHS in each primary trust area in the West Midlands in the latest period for which figures are available;

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The numbers of full-time equivalent staff for the staff groups requested employed by national health service organisations in the West Midlands as at 31 October 2012 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing staff in the West Midlands strategic health authority area by organisation in each specified area of work as at 31 October 2012 
			 Full-time equivalent 
			       Of which: 
			   All specified staff Community learning disabilities Community psychiatry Community services Community matron District nurses Health visitors 
			 West Midlands strategic health authority area  7,190 325 1,683 5,181 152 838 930 
			          
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust RXT 331 — 331 — — — — 
			 Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust RQ3 2 — — 2 — — — 
			 Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust RYW 982 49 3 930 42 146 159 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 5PG 21 — — 21 — — — 
			 University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust RRK 45 — — 45 — — — 
			 Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust TAJ 231 41 95 94 — — 57 
			 Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RJF 3 — — 3 — — — 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust RYG 571 88 193 289 13 9 29 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust RKB 6 — — 6 — — — 
			 Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust RYK 236 — 233 3 — — — 
			 Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust RNA 203 — — 203 — — — 
			 Dudley PCT 5PE 19 — — 19 — — — 
			 George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust RLT 22 — — 22 — — — 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 5MX 6 — — 6 — 3 — 
			 Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust RR1 209 2 3 204 9 28 27 
			 Herefordshire PCT 5CN 7 — 2 5 — — — 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust RLY 265 67 186 12 — — — 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 5PH 14 — — 14 — — — 
			 Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust RL4 248 — — 248 9 90 50 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust RXK 274 — — 274 13 43 55 
			 Sandwell PCT 5PF 10 — — 10 — — — 
			 Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust RID 372 5 9 358 5 47 84 
			 Shropshire County PCT 5M2 15 — — 15 — 10 — 
			 Solihull PCT 5QW 5 — — 5 — 2 — 
			 South Birmingham PCT 5M1 16 — — 16 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust RRE 512 38 460 15 — — — 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 5PK 12 — 1 11 — — — 
			 South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust RJC 414 — — 414 11 174 92 
			 Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership NHS Trust R1E 976 6 1 968 33 157 209 
			 Stoke On Trent PCT 5PJ 10 — — 10 — — — 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 5MK 4 — — 4 — 1 — 
			 Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust RBK 264 — — 264 10 14 40 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 5M3 2 — — 2 — — — 
			 Warwickshire PCT 5PM 41 — — 41 — 16 — 
			 West Midlands strategic health authority Q34 3 — — 3 — — — 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 5MV 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust RWP 26 — — 26 — — 1 
			 Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust R1A 659 23 163 473 8 75 100 
			 Worcestershire PCT 5PL 17 — — 17 — — — 
			 Wye Valley NHS Trust RLQ 135 5 2 128 — 22 27 
			 “—“ = Zero Notes: 1 Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. Community matrons, health visitors and district nurses work exclusively in the community services area of work. This area of work also includes nurse consultants, modern matrons, nurse managers, RSCNs, Other 1st Level nurses and Other 2nd Level nurses who are not separately identified in this table. 3. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary school leavers were (a) obese and (b) overweight in each region in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

Anna Soubry: This information is not available in the format requested.
	Data on the prevalence of obese and overweight children by strategic health authority in England is available from the Health and Social Care Information Centre ‘National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP): England’. Information is available for children in year 6 (10 to 11 years old). This information is available on the NHS Information Centre website.
	This information has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for Wales is a matter for the devolved Administration.

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) deceased organ donors and (b) recipients of organs were aged between (i) 0 and 10, (ii) 11 and 20, (iii) 21 and 30, (iv) 31 and 40, (v) 41 and 50, (vi) 51 and 60, (vii) 61 and 70, (viii) 71 and 80 and (ix) over 81 in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: Deceased organ donors in the United Kingdom, 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012, by year and age group 
			  Donor age group  
			  0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61 to 70 71 to 80 81 to 90 Total 
			 2008 11 82 99 122 203 196 131 39 1 884 
			 2009 12 69 77 134 214 234 138 48 5 931 
			 2010 19 51 88 115 122 237 204 78 2 1,015 
			 2011 21 52 83 112 211 247 229 98 3 1,056 
			 2012 10 65 86 119 225 279 264 108 8 1,164 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Transplant recipients in the UK, 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012, by year and age group 
			  Recipient age group  
			  0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61 to 70 71 to 80 81 to 90 Total 
			 2008 123 122 251 429 594 619 357 50 0 2,545 
			 2009 112 114 189 393 610 668 448 65 1 2,600 
			 2010 124 116 197 325 649 749 463 81 2 2,706 
			 2011 128 115 205 366 654 735 531 89 1 2,824 
			 2012 113 109 202 353 686 844 619 94 1 3,021 
			 Note: No transplant recipient in the period was aged over 90 years old. Organs refers to solid organs and does not cover corneas or tissues. There have been no solid organ donors that are over 90, though people over the age of 90 can and do donate corneas. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people on the organ donor register are aged (a) 0 to 10, (b) 11 to 20, (c) 21 to 30, (d) 31 to 40, (e) 41 to 50, (f) 51 to 60, (g) 61 to 70, (h) 71 to 80 and (i) more than 81 years old.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Age of people on the organ donor register as at 30 January2013 
			 Age group Number Percentage 
			 0 to 10 166,504 0.9 
			 11 to 20 988,391 5.1 
			 21 to 30 3,348,929 17.3 
			 31 to 40 4,233,352 21.9 
			 41 to 50 4,011,262 20.7 
			 51 to 60 2,692,639 13.9 
			 61 to 70 2,014,250 10.4 
			 71 to 80 1,235,845 6.4 
			 81 or over 648,334 3.4 
			 Total 19,339,506 100 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deceased organ donors who gave (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (j) nine and (k) 10 or more organs in each of the last five years were aged (i) 0 to 10, (ii) 11 to 20, (iii) 21 to 30, (iv) 31 to 40, (v) 41 to 50, (vi) 51 to 60, (vii) 61 to 70, (viii) 71 to 80 and (ix) more than 81 years old.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Deceased organ donors in the United Kingdom, 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012, by year, number of organs donated and age group 
			  Organs donated 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 Total 
			 2008 1 0 2 7 3 3 8 6 2 0 31 
			  2 3 5 14 21 32 49 39 15 0 178 
			  3 2 11 19 23 40 72 57 22 1 247 
			  4 4 29 33 40 69 38 16 0 0 229 
			  5 0 16 9 21 26 13 7 0 0 92 
			  6 0 13 8 9 25 13 6 0 0 74 
			  7 2 6 9 5 8 3 0 0 0 33 
			  Total 11 82 99 122 203 196 131 39 1 884 
			             
			 2009 1 1 2 1 6 5 8 7 2 1 33 
			  2 1 10 7 25 52 56 44 20 1 216 
			  3 0 11 14 26 47 64 73 26 3 264 
			  4 6 23 23 38 61 63 11 0 0 225 
			  5 2 10 14 13 20 17 1 0 0 77 
			  6 0 8 9 16 21 21 2 0 0 77 
			  7 2 5 9 10 8 5 0 0 0 39 
			  Total 12 69 77 134 214 234 138 48 5 931 
			             
			 2010 1 0 1 1 4 8 9 12 9 1 45 
			  2 0 7 11 19 33 64 78 39 1 252 
			  3 6 8 13 16 43 56 98 29 0 269 
			  4 8 17 31 33 79 71 9 1 0 249 
			  5 2 7 14 17 21 14 6 0 0 81 
			  6 2 4 8 19 26 20 1 0 0 80 
			  7 1 7 10 7 11 3 0 0 0 39 
		
	
	
		
			  Total 19 51 88 115 221 237 204 78 2 1,015 
			             
			 2011 1 2 1 5 5 8 10 22 11 0 64 
			  2 4 4 6 19 40 53 84 45 2 257 
			  3 2 5 20 20 40 69 105 42 1 304 
			  4 10 22 21 27 58 58 7 0 0 203 
			  5 2 10 13 13 21 17 8 0 0 84 
			  6 1 5 12 12 28 30 3 0 0 91 
			  7 0 5 6 16 16 10 0 0 0 53 
			  Total 21 52 83 112 211 247 229 98 3 1,056 
			             
			 2012 1 1 0 5 3 8 11 11 13 0 52 
			  2 1 8 14 17 45 68 104 55 6 318 
			  3 4 9 17 17 42 74 126 40 2 331 
			  4 1 22 22 35 69 68 13 0 0 230 
			  5 3 7 15 17 29 28 10 0 0 109 
			  6 0 7 5 20 22 23 0 0 0 77 
			  7 0 12 8 10 10 7 0 0 0 47 
			  Total 10 65 86 119 225 279 264 108 8 1,164 
			 Note: No donor donated more than seven organs in the period. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant.

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) male and (b) female recipients of organs in each of the last five years were aged (i) 0 to 10, (ii) 11 to 20, (iii) 21 to 30, (iv) 31 to 40, (v) 41 to 50, (vi) 50 to 60, (vii) 61 to 70, (viii) 71 to 80 and (ix) more than 81 years old.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Transplant recipients in the United Kingdom, 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012, by year, sex and age group 
			  Sex 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 Total 
			 2008 Male 63 56 133 236 390 390 240 34 0 1,542 
			  Female 60 66 118 193 204 229 117 16 0 1,003 
			  Unknown 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Total 123 122 251 429 594 619 357 50 0 2,545 
			             
			 2009 Male 58 61 106 229 381 437 291 44 1 1,608 
			  Female 54 53 83 164 229 231 157 21 0 992 
			  Unknown 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Total 112 114 189 393 610 668 448 65 1 2,600 
			             
			 2010 Male 57 58 100 181 404 482 307 55 1 1,645 
			  Female 67 58 96 143 245 266 156 26 1 1,058 
			  Unknown 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 
			  Total 124 116 197 325 649 749 463 81 2 2,706 
			             
			 2011 Male 77 51 121 211 398 480 341 61 1 1,741 
			  Female 51 64 84 155 256 253 190 28 0 1,081 
			  Unknown 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 
			  Total 128 115 205 366 654 735 531 89 1 2,824 
			             
			 2012 Male 51 65 109 199 431 545 407 62 1 1,870 
			  Female 62 44 92 154 255 299 211 32 0 1,149 
			  Unknown 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Total 113 109 202 353 686 844 619 94 1 3,021 
			 Note: No transplant recipient in the period was aged over 90-years-old. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant.

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for promoting awareness of organ donor registration in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: Promotion of awareness of organ donation registration by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is primarily funded through grant in aid from the Department. NHSBT also receives funding for this activity from the Welsh and Scottish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Campaign activity is focused on making best use of no and low cost channels such as free media coverage and online including social media. NHSBT works with a range of partners to promote donation arid support local initiatives.
	Specific campaigns and activities have included:
	‘Be A Superhero!’ in 2007-08 to encourage awareness of organ donation among young people;
	‘Prove It’ in 2009-10, the first national campaign to raise awareness of the need for donation in response to recommendations made by the Organ Donation taskforce;
	Taking on coordination of activity for Transplant Week in 2010 and leading it in 2011 and 2012;
	Supporting partnership work (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Boots, local authorities) including developing an approach to prompt people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register; and
	Supporting local marketing and education initiatives.
	The following table shows NHSBT Organ Donation Campaign Expenditure 2007-08 to 2011-12.
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure (£) 
			 2007-08 282,669 
			 2008-09 458,373 
			 2009-10 (1)5,990,598 
			 2010-11 788,284 
			 2011-12 777,236 
			 (1) The 2009-10 financial year saw the launch of the ‘Prove It’ campaign. Additional support was allocated from the Department of Health to fund this campaign. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in (a) Gillingham and Rainham constituency, (b) Medway and (c) Kent have received organ donations in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Organ transplants performed in the United Kingdom, 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2012, by transplant type and year 
			 (a) Gillingham and Rainham constituency residents 
			 Transplant type 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Deceased donor kidney 2 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 2 
			 Living donor kidney 1 1 0 0 0 2 4 3 2 1 
			 Kidney/pancreas 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pancreas islets 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Heart 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Deceased donor lung(s) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Heart/lung 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Deceased donor liver/lobe (including domino) 1 0 0 2 3 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Living donor liver lobe o. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other multi organ 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 4 5 3 3 6 4 6 6 6 3 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Medway borough residents 
			 Transplant type 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Deceased donor kidney 5 7 3 5 4 9 3 6 3 7 
			 Living donor kidney 3 1 2 5 2 7 10 5 6 4 
			 Kidney/pancreas 0 1 3 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Pancreas 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pancreas islets 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Heart 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Deceased donor lung(s) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Heart/lung 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Deceased donor liver/lobe (including domino) 4 1 1 2 5 3 2 2 3 1 
			 Living donor liver lobe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other multi organ 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 13 12 10 15 13 19 20 15 13 12 
		
	
	
		
			 (c) Kent county residents 
			 Transplant type 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Deceased donor kidney 20 31 13 26 19 24 27 24 31 36 
			 Living donor kidney 14 18 17 20 34 42 44 36 37 33 
			 Kidney/pancreas 2 3 5 7 3 5 6 5 4 5 
			 Pancreas 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Pancreas islets 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Heart 1 3 8 4 1 2 6 2 3 2 
			 Deceased donor lung(s) 2 2 2 3 3 2 4 9 3 2 
			 Heart/lung 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Deceased donor liver/lobe (including domino) 15 12 11 21 16 22 15 20 15 12 
			 Living donor liver lobe 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Other multi organ 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Total 54 69 58 83 78 100 106 97 93 91 
			 Note: A domino donor transplant is a transplant that occurs when a viable liver from a patient receiving a liver transplant is transplanted into another patient. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in Gillingham and Rainham constituency (a) were on the transplant waiting list and (b) died waiting for a transplant in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables. NHS Blood and Transplant only hold waiting list figures going back to the end of 2005 and are not able to provide the full 10 years of data requested.
	
		
			 Table 1: Patients on the United Kingdom active(1) transplant list, 31 December 2005 to 2012, by organ listed for transplant and year—Gillingham and Rainham constituency residents 
			  December each year: 
			 Organ listed for transplant 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Kidney 4 5 6 5 6 4 6 8 
			 Kidney/pancreas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Pancreas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Heart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Heart/lung 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Liver 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Other multi organ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 7 6 6 5 7 5 7 11 
			 (1)Active means not suspended. Patients can be suspended from the waiting list for a variety of reasons including being too ill for the procedure and by going on holiday. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Patients who died on the transplant waiting list in the UK, 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2012, by organ listed for transplant and year—Gillingham and Rainham constituency residents 
			 Organ listed for transplant 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Kidney 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Kidney/pancreas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pancreas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Heart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Heart/lung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Liver 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other multi organ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Organs: Donors

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people on the organ donor register who are aged 30 years and under are (a) white, (b) Asian and Asian-British, (c) Black and Black British, (d) Chinese and Oriental, (e) mixed, (f) other and (g) not recorded.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Ethnicity of people on the organ donor register aged 30 or under as at 30 January 2013 
			 Ethnicity Number Percentage of total Percentage where ethnicity reported 
			 White 806,224 17.9 94.6 
			 Asian and Asian British 16,689 0.4 2.0 
			 Black and Black British 5,377 0.1 0.6 
			 Chinese and Oriental 2,493 0.1 0.3 
			 Mixed 19,077 0.4 2.2 
			 Other 2,078 0.0 0.2 
			 Total declared 851,938 18.9 100.0 
			 Total not declared 3,651,881 81.1 — 
			 Total 4,503,819 100.0 — 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Prescriptions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the prescriptions dispersed in England in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 had the standard prescription charge applied; and how many of those prescriptions had been issued by the NHS.

Norman Lamb: The numbers of prescriptions items dispensed, in the community, in England, with the standard prescription charge applied for 2010 and 2011 are given in the following table. All of these prescriptions were issued by the national health service. Figures for 2012 are currently not available.
	
		
			 Calendar year Items dispensed, charge applied (million) All items dispensed (million) Percentage of all items dispensed with charge applied 
			 2010 52.3 926.7 5.6 
			 2011 51.7 961.5 5.4 
			 Notes: 1. Figures may include prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England, 2. Prescriptions dispensed where the patient holds a valid prescription pre-payment certificate, purchased in advance from the NHS Business Services Authority, so that no charge is paid at the point of dispensing, are classed as non-charged prescriptions. Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Prescribing and Primary Care Services.

Primary Care Trusts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions primary care trusts have failed to meet the service level agreements in the last five years; and on how many occasions in that period the Solihull Primary Care Trust has failed to meet its service level agreement.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Solihull Primary Care Trust (PCT) may hold information in respect of service level agreements into which it has entered. The hon. Member may wish to approach the PCT directly on this matter.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(2)  how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body;
	(3)  how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold the information requested on senior officials centrally.
	Arm's length bodies include a remuneration report in their Annual Reports that includes details of salaries, pension entitlements and any benefits in kind of the most senior staff at chair, non-executive director and executive director levels. Fees paid to non-executive board members are also included in the remuneration report. Accounts and the accompanying Annual Reports for the financial year 2012-13 will be published in due course after the end of the financial year.
	Where senior officials are employed currently by the Department, I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave her on 4 February 2013, Official Report, column 92W.

Tuberculosis

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) Find and Treat Tuberculosis Project and (b) the mobile X-ray screening unit; and whether the service will be funded after April 2013.

Anna Soubry: The Health Protection Agency undertook a formal evaluation of the London Find and Treat mobile outreach service for tuberculosis (TB) in 2010, which demonstrated its clinical and cost effectiveness. Public health guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2011 subsequently recommended the use of the mobile chest X-ray services like Find and Treat to identify active pulmonary TB among people who use homeless or substance misuse services in areas of identified need, including major urban centres with a high incidence of TB. The NHS in London, which has funded the Find and Treat service since 1 April 2011, will continue to fund this service in 2013-14.

Warfarin

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans any change to the prescription charges that patients who are permanently on Warfarin are currently expected to pay; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Prescription charges and the cost of prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) have historically been reviewed and announced towards the end of a financial year. PPCs are available for those who need a number of prescriptions in a limited time period, or frequent prescriptions over the course of a year and can reduce the cost of paying for medicines. A patient may be entitled to free prescriptions if they meet one of the exemption criteria identified in legislation, such as a qualifying medical condition.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

British Antarctic Survey

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider ring-fencing the budget of the British Antarctic Survey.

David Willetts: Yes, as I outlined in my written ministerial statement on 2 November 2012, Official Report, column reference 25WS, I consider that the Natural Environment Research Council should have a discrete funding line for Antarctic infrastructure and logistics from within the ring-fenced science budget to ensure a visible UK commitment to maintaining Antarctic science and presence. The exact mechanism for this will be developed as part of discussions on the next spending review.

Business: Loans

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to assist banks in training bank managers on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Greg Clark: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The Government does not have any plans to assist banks in the training of their relationship managers.
	The Government is committed to ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises receive fair treatment from their banks and in 2010 this Government and the British Bankers Association established the Appeals Process. This process is independently chaired by Professor Russel Griggs. It allows any business with a turnover of less than £25 million to have a loan application which has been declined reviewed by a second person from within the bank who was not involved in the original decision. The results from the first year of the process show that in 40% of cases where a decline was appealed against, a lending agreement with which both parties were satisfied was reached.

Foreign Investment in UK: South West

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of foreign direct investment attracted to the UK by UK Trade and Investment was invested in the South West region in 2011-12; and what steps he is taking to increase the promotion of South West businesses through UK Trade and Investment's activities.

Michael Fallon: In 2011-12 UKTI recorded a total of 50 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in the South West. Of these UKTI were involved in 38 projects.
	From April to December 2012 UKTI delivered 1,736 services to South West businesses. Within this period 108 South West businesses enrolled on UKTI's Passport to Export programme, 88 on the Gateway to Global Growth programme and more than 960 business delegates attended UKTI events. During November 2012 UKTI held ‘Export Week’ across the English regions and in the South West 15 events were held with more than 450 business delegates in attendance. The flagship event, ‘Explore Export’, attracted 232 business delegates with 406 one-to-one meetings taking place with 54 trade officers representing 42 overseas markets.
	UKTI South West is now planning its activities for 2013-14 which will include two ‘Export Weeks’, the first concentrating on high growth markets in May 2013 and the second in November 2013. In addition trade missions are proposed to Vietnam, China, Brazil, South Africa, India, East Africa, Australia, Russia and Saudi Arabia. UKTI has also announced an extension to the Passport to Export programme which will allow for the recruitment of further South West businesses to the programme over the next two years.

Multinational Companies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will list the multinational companies with which Ministers in his Department are buddied in the strategic relations initiative announced in July 2011; and how many times each Minister has met his allotted company.

Michael Fallon: The Government are committed to a whole-government approach to developing strategic relationships with major exporters and investors. Ministers play an important part in helping to develop and sustain winning relationships with these investors and exporters to deliver jobs and economic growth. The full list of companies is available here:
	http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/item/203560.html
	All Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website which can be accessed using the following hyperlink:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills/series/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012

Oil: Prices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Office of Fair Trading report into petrol prices, published on 30 January 2013, what steps he plans to take on the oil market, its price-levels and its resilience; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	The Office of Fair Trading published their findings on the UK petrol and diesel sector in January 2013. In particular, the OFT looked at whether the prices at the pump fairly reflect the price retailers pay, and concluded that they do. The Government will continue to monitor price movements closely and the OFT has not ruled out taking further action in local markets if there is persuasive evidence of anti-competitive behaviour. The report makes clear that OFT has not seen such evidence to date.
	The Government recognises that the price of petrol is a significant part of day-to-day spending. Since coming to office we have listened to the concerns of motorists and acted to reduce the effects on them of high global oil prices, including cancelling the planned 3p fuel duty rise planned for 1 January and deferring the 2013/14 increase from April 2013 to September 2013.
	In December 2012 DECC published a report from Deloitte LLP considering the implications of recent changes to the retail market for road fuels on energy resilience. This makes clear that, despite the closure of many filling stations over recent decades, on a postcode basis 98% of drivers live within 10 minutes of a filling station and the average driving time of the remaining 2% is just two or three minutes more than this. The report does not suggest that the changes to the size and shape of the retail market for road fuels to date have significantly reduced our resilience to supply disruptions. The rate of closures has slowed significantly in recent years and DECC will continue to monitor this closely.
	DECC engages regularly with the sector to ensure that risks to supply disruptions are minimised and that supplies remain as close to normal as possible. My officials will work with industry and the trade associations to discuss the findings from both reports.

Overseas Trade: EU Countries

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of Liverpool's exports and imports are with EU Member States.

Michael Fallon: In 2012 Q3 (latest data available), 45.1% of all goods exported by businesses based in the North West were to EU member states. The corresponding import proportion was 52.6%. Figures are not compiled for areas below Government Office Region level.
	Regional data on trade in services, broken down by EU and Non-EU markets, are not available.
	Source:
	HMRC Regional Trade Statistics

Overseas Trade: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Scottish companies have been supported by UK Trade and Investment in the last year for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: According to UK Trade and Investment's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system data, in the last financial year 2011/12, UKTI supported 1,587companies located in Scotland on trade related activities.
	In that period, UKTI was involved in 75 of the 96 Foreign Direct Investment projects landed in Scotland.

Pay

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings he has had with trades unions to discuss the living wage.

Jo Swinson: Ministers meet regularly with trade unions on a wide range of issues. However neither the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), nor other Ministers in the Department have had any recent meetings with trade unions specifically on the living wage.

Regional Growth Fund: West Midlands

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much money allocated to businesses in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands under the Regional Growth Fund (i) has been allocated and (ii) is yet to be paid out.

Michael Fallon: Under Rounds 1 and 2 of the Regional Growth Fund £75,000,000 has been allocated to two programmes in Birmingham of which £72,500,000 has been paid out. £154,024,048 has been allocated to one programme and twenty six projects in the West Midlands (excluding Birmingham) of which £8,240,491 has been paid out. Projects can start as soon as they receive our offer and many do, with their own private investment, drawing down their Government grant by agreement with us at whatever stage best suits them.
	Projects and programmes selected for Round 3 are in the contracting stages and allocations have not been confirmed yet.

Trade Promotion

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote trade and export opportunities for UK businesses in high growth markets.

Michael Fallon: To help promote trade and export opportunities to high growth and emerging markets, the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) corporate strategy, Britain Open for Business, identifies 20 key emerging markets for particularly focussed efforts. UKTI is shifting resource into these markets in response to growing demand; undertaking awareness raising outreach events throughout the UK; working with business-led partner organisations such as the China-Britain Business Council and UK-India Business Council; and tackling barriers to trade, for instance, through Government-to-Government dialogues, such as those held with India, Russia, UAE, and Vietnam in 2012.
	In addition, the December 2012 autumn statement set out an increase to UKTI's annual budget of £70 million that will help deliver services to more exporters and help to refocus UKTI activities on the highest value opportunities and emerging markets.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Jo Swinson: BIS have had no senior officials in the Department during 2012-13 whose terms of employment specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they were entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Jo Swinson: The Department does not hold the details of the terms and conditions of chairs centrally. Reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs is generally made on the basis of the actual expenses incurred. Senior staff and board members of organisations within the BIS family are required to comply with the terms of the Alexander review and pay tax and national insurance on their full earnings, including allowances.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Jo Swinson: The Department does not hold this information centrally. Reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs is generally made on the basis of the actual expenses incurred. Senior staff and board members of organisations within the BIS family are required to comply with the terms of the Alexander review and pay tax and national insurance on their full earnings, including allowances.

Vocational Training

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for future funding of (a) apprenticeships for people aged between 19 and 24 and (b) the Skills Funding Agency; and what assessment he has made of the value of such funding in improving young people's future employability.

Matthew Hancock: holding answer 1 February 2013
	The Skills Funding statement for 2012-15, which was published on 6 December, set out the funding and priorities for post 19 education and skills. This includes funding for adult apprenticeships, including for people aged 19-24, which are funded through the single adult skills budget managed by the Skills Funding Agency. Details of the agency's overall budget for 2013-14 will be set out in an annual funding letter, due to be issued before the start of the financial year.

JUSTICE

Shrewsbury Pickets

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Government will release the remaining papers relating to the Shrewsbury pickets.

Chris Grayling: Most of the papers relating to the trials of the “Shrewsbury 24” are available at the National Archives. However, the Cabinet Office, for example, has retained a small number of papers supplied by or otherwise relating to the intelligence agencies. It is for individual Government Departments holding particular papers to decide whether they wish to retain them in accordance with the Public Records Act.

Human Trafficking

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to ensure that under the Salvation Army contract with his Department, trend mapping data is kept on the local authority district in which each victim of human trafficking is discovered in England and Wales.

Chris Grayling: The safety and support of victims of trafficking is paramount. Providing this level of information could result in them being rediscovered by their trafficker. It is for this reason that the region in which the victim was encountered was and will continue to be provided rather than the local authority area.
	Therefore in order to protect these vulnerable victims we do not intend to ask the Salvation Army to collate trend mapping data under its contract with Government.

New Prison

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the proposed size and cost is of the new prison to be sited in London, north-west England or north Wales.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is carrying out a review to examine the feasibility of constructing a new prison. The feasibility work will determine the most appropriate location, size and role of the prison as well as examining the operating and funding arrangements. This work will allow us to estimate the cost.
	I look forward to meeting the hon. Gentleman to discuss the matter when he has had the opportunity to consult with his parliamentary and local government colleagues.

Sentencing Policy

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his sentencing policy is for the most serious and violent offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Serious and violent offenders deserve to go to prison. That is why we introduced mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted for a second time of a very serious sexual or violent offence, and tough extended determinate sentences for other dangerous offenders. The new regime restores clarity, coherence and common sense to sentencing.

Interest Rate Swap Products

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will introduce costs protection for litigation for small and medium-sized businesses who have been mis-sold interest rate swap products.

Helen Grant: The Government welcomes the Financial Services Authority's announcement on 31 January that the full review process into the mis-selling of interest rate swaps will now begin. I am confident that the process will provide the correct level of redress for all those businesses affected, as quickly as possible, without the need to go to court.

Community Orders: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on achieving compliance with community sentences in London; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: London Probation Trust (LPT) has focused on increasing compliance as one of the key areas for performance improvement. Over the last three years there have been a number of LPT projects that have focused on performance improvement and the quality of work with offenders. The impact of these initiatives can be seen in improving compliance results, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Table: Orders and Licences successfully completed for offenders managed by London Probation Trust from 2008-09 to 2011-12 
			  Percentage successfully completed(1) 
			 2008-09 72 
			 2009-10 73 
			 2010-11 75 
			 2011-12 77 
			 (1) A successfully completed order or licence is one which has run its full course or been terminated early for good progress. Data sources and quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last individual, the figures may not be accurate to that level.

Community Orders: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  of what offence each person who breached the conditions of their community payback sentence in London had been found guilty in each year from 2007 to 2012;
	(2)  what the sanction was on each person who breached the conditions of their community payback sentence in London in each year from 2007 to 2012;
	(3)  how many people were (a) sentenced to, (b) successfully completed and (c) breached the conditions of their community payback in London in each year from 2007 to 2012.

Jeremy Wright: The information requested on breaches of community sentences is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, data are available on the reasons for termination for requirements of community orders and suspended sentence orders. These reasons include early termination for failure to comply with requirements or for conviction of a further offence.
	Table 1 provides data on the total number of unpaid work requirements started under community order and suspended sentence orders in London from 2007 to 2011, along with the number of requirements successfully completed (terminated early due to good progress or ran their full course) and unsuccessfully completed (committal of a further offence or failure to comply).
	Please note that a requirement may start in one year and complete in another, so the starts and completions figures within a given year cannot be directly compared.
	It should be noted that not all breaches of community sentences will result in early termination. In line with National Standards for the Management of Offenders 2011 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003, an offender who fails to comply with the terms of his or her supervision in the community may be given one formal warning in any 12 month period on an order (and no more than two warnings within a 12 month period while on post-release licence) before breach or recall action becomes required. Furthermore, although the court which hears an allegation of breach relating to a community order may decide to revoke the order and replace it with an alternative community or custodial sentence, it may on the other hand decide that the order should continue with more onerous requirements, or fine the offender.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Total(1) number of starts, successful(2) and unsuccessful(3) completions of unpaid work requirements(4) in London, 2007-11(5) 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Starts 12,686 12,890 13,976 14,148 
			 Successful completions 6,516 7,950 9,218 10,401 
			 Unsuccessful completions 1,822 2,156 2,346 2,595 
			 (1) The total number of unpaid work requirements given under community orders and SSOs are provided rather than the number of offenders, because an offender may have more than one order with an unpaid work requirement. (2) Successful completion of requirements: those that ran their full course and those that were terminated early for good progress. (3) Unsuccessful completion of requirements: those that were revoked for failure to comply and revoked for committing a further offence—information on breaches of requirements is not held centrally.

Conditions of Employment

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in his Department.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, National Offender Management Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) employed 140 members of staff on zero hour contracts (as at 31 December 2012).
	The use of zero hour contracts enables greater flexibility where work is irregular, thereby making more efficient use of resources to meet demand.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many claimants on employment and support allowance have had their appeals overturned at a tribunal in each year since 2010.

Helen Grant: Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on an individual's entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) are heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.
	Appeals can be made against elements of an ESA award, such as the rate of entitlement, as well as against a decision to refuse ESA.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of ESA appeals found (a) in favour of the appellant and (b) in favour of DWP in 2010-11, 2011-12, and in the first two quarters of 2012-13 (the latest period for which information is available).
	
		
			 Employment and support allowance appeals 
			   (a) Decisions in favour of the appellant (b) Decisions in favour of DWP 
			  ESA cases cleared at hearing(1) Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 April 2010 to March 2011 127,100 47,600 37 78,400 62 
			 April 2011 to March 2012 168,000 65,400 39 101,600 60 
			 April to June 2012 44,400 18,700 42 25,600 58 
			 July to September 2012 53,200 22,500 42 30,600 57 
			 (1) These are cases that were disposed of at a hearing. The total number of cases cleared at hearing includes some cases that were withdrawn and on which no decision was made. These figures therefore are not the sum total of decisions in favour and decisions upheld. Note: The above data is taken from published statistics and values are rounded to the nearest 100.

Law of Property Act 1925

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many receiverships under the Law of Property Act 1925 took place in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures centrally which specifically relate to the Law of Property Act 1925. This is because the administrative computer systems used in courts do not presently identify this specific dispute type. While the relevant cases will be logged on the system, they cannot be distinguished from other types of actions brought to court. Obtaining the information requested would require the inspection of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list the occasions on which (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have written circular letters to only Conservative hon. Members since his appointment.

Helen Grant: I am committed to keeping Parliament fully informed about our reforms and do so through correspondence, statements and briefing sessions on a range of issues. I work closely with coalition colleagues and members from all sides of the House.

Minimum Wage

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average back-payment is in cases where employees have successfully claimed for not having not been paid the minimum wage (a) nationally and (b) in the Vale of Clwyd.

Helen Grant: The current standard pay ranges within the Ministry of Justice (Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, National Offender Management Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) all exceed the national minimum wage.
	Since the Department was formed in May 2007, I am not aware of any payment for claims for back-payments in respect of an employee not having been paid the national minimum wage either (a) nationally or (b) in the Vale of Clwyd.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many absconded criminals launched their appeals while on the run in each of the last three years.

Helen Grant: The information requested is not centrally held by the Ministry of Justice. The information may be available via the manual inspection of case files for all appeals but this would be possible only at a disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with people in north Wales on the siting of a new prison in that area;
	(2)  which sites in north Wales are under consideration for a new prison.

Jeremy Wright: I met with the North Wales Regional Leadership Board on 16 October 2012 to discuss custodial provision in north Wales.
	Decisions on prison capacity and if appropriate on any sites for development will be taken in due course.

Recruitment

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010.

Helen Grant: Since May 2010, the Ministry of Justice has significantly cut the amount spent on advertising job vacancies. In the last full year of the previous Government, more than £1 million was spent on recruitment advertising. Under the coalition, this has been reduced by nearly 75%, to just over £250,000 in 2011-12, making better use of taxpayers' money.
	The Ministry of Justice has spent £639,994 (exclusive of VAT) on advertising staff vacancies through our contracted suppliers between May 2010 and July 2012. A breakdown is provided in the following table to show the amounts spent in each of the financial years:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2009-10 1,003,523 
			 2010-11 (1)545,642 
			 2011-12 258,235 
			 2012-13 109,327 
			 (1) Only £272,432 since May 2010

Sexual Offences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many suspended sentences were passed for (a) rape and (b) other serious sexual offences in 2012;
	(2)  how many cautions were handed out for (a) rape and (b) other serious sexual offences in 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Court proceedings data for 2012 are planned for publication in May 2013.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.

Helen Grant: Within the Ministry of Justice (MOJ HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, National Offender Management Service and the Office of the Public Guardian), there were no senior civil servants who, as at 31 December 2012, had their main place of employment as their home address. However, at one stage during 2012-13, there was one senior civil servant who had their main place of employment as their home address.
	The Departments' travel and subsistence policies set out the circumstances in which it may be possible for employees to reclaim part or all of the extra costs incurred in the course of their official duties. This can include those individual members of staff who travel between their main place of employment and other departmental offices.

Witnesses: Protection

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what provisions are in place to protect witnesses whose lives are put in danger as a result of their testimony.

Helen Grant: Witness protection plays a vital role in tackling serious and organised crime in our communities. Witnesses deserve society's thanks and protection. In December we announced the UK Protected Persons Service which will ensure that those who risk their lives to bring criminals to justice get the best possible support and protection.

DEFENCE

Adjutant General's Corps: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Adjutant General's Corps are liable for redundancy under tranche 3.

Mark Francois: As part of the January 2013 redundancy announcement for Tranche 3 that earmarked 5,300 posts, the number of personnel in the Adjutant General's Corps who are required to be made redundant are:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Major 22 
			 Captain 9 
			 Warrant Officer Class 1 2 
			 Sergeant 15 
			 Corporal 35 
			 Lance Corporal 19 
			 Private 53

Africa

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's programmes, are currently operational in (a) Mali, (b) Niger, (c) Nigeria, (d) Algeria, (e) Mauritania, (f) Burkina Faso, (g) Chad, (h) Libya, (i) Sudan, (j) South Sudan, (k) Ethiopia, (l) Somalia, (m) Kenya and (n) Western Sahara.

Andrew Murrison: holding answer 1 February 2013
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is conducting an active programme of defence engagement, including liaison and training, with Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
	With regard to Mali, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 781.

Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the New Employment Model.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 162W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).

Army Air Corps: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Army Air Corps are liable for redundancy under tranche 3, by rank.

Mark Francois: As part of the January 2013 redundancy announcement for Tranche 3 that earmarked 5,300 posts, the number of personnel in the Army Air Corps who are required to be made redundant are:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Lance Corporal 10 
			 Private 60

Departmental Responsibilities

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the potential consequences are of making a false statement to his Department as part of the requirement scrutiny obligation.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 4 February 2013
	The military requirement for any acquisition is carefully scrutinised as part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) approvals process. This involves the submission of a business case together with supporting evidence as directed by the relevant technical scrutineers.
	The scrutiny process is designed to test thoroughly and independently the validity of the assertions made against the available evidence. Any misrepresentation of the facts would, if identified during the approval process or thereafter, be brought to the attention of the approving authority and they would take a view on the appropriate action.

Economic Community of West African States

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there is a military memorandum of understanding with any Economic Community of West African States country; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The United Kingdom Government has extant military memoranda of understanding with the following members of the Economic Community of West African States: The Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Mali. These bilateral arrangements provide for military training, cooperation and support for both the UK and the host nation.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the grounding of the F35-B aircraft due to improper crimping of the fueldraulic lines; and when the aircraft will resume testing.

Mark Francois: The investigation into the fueldraulic fault on the F-35B has revealed a manufacturing quality control discrepancy. Out of tolerance units have been removed from aircraft and returned to the F-35 propulsion system prime contractor for replacement. Corrective actions to improve quality control processes and ensure part integrity have been instituted by the contractor.
	Ground testing of the F-35B remains unaffected. The F-35 Joint Program Office, Naval Air Systems Command and the UK are developing a return to flight plan, which, once approved will inform when F-35B will return to flight.

Lost Property

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the total value of loss was from (a) COD Donnington, (b) COD Bicester, (c) HMNB Clyde, (d) HMNB Portsmouth, (e) ACIO Colchester and (f) HMNB Devonport in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total value was of items classified as trivial losses at (a) COD Donnington, (b) COD Bicester, (c) HMNB Clyde, (d) HMNB Portsmouth, (e) ACIO Colchester and (f) HMNB Devonport in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: This information is not held centrally and will take time to collate. A letter will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as this task has been completed.

Lost Property

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which items were listed as (a) lost, (b) lost in transit and (c) missing at (i) COD Donnington and (ii) COD Bicester from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total value was of items (a) lost, (b) lost in transit and (c) missing from Defence Equipment and Support in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the total value was of items (a) lost, (b) lost in transit and (c) missing from (i) COD Donnington, (ii) COD Bicester, (iii) HMNB Clyde, (iv) HMNB Portsmouth, (v) ACIO Colchester and (vi) HMNB Devonport; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: This information is not held centrally and will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
	Letter from Philip Dunne, dated 4 February 2013
	You recently tabled five written Parliamentary Questions about equipment lost from a number of named MOD establishments. In the replies published in Hansard on 18 December 2012 (Official Report, column 710W) and on 10 January 2013 (Official Report, column 389W) I said that I would write to you once the requested information had been collated. This task has now been completed. (135296, 135298, 132901, 132902, 132903).
	Information on the number or description of items lost or lost in transit from Logistic Commodities & Services (LCS) Bicester and LCS Donnington is not held in the format requested. Between 1 January 2010 and 30 September 2012 a total of 7,505 incidences of materiel loss (a single incidence may involve the loss of more than one item) were reported from Depots from within the LCS Operating Centre (OC), part of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). The LCS OC includes the three main storage and distribution depots at Bicester, Donnington and Dulmen in Germany.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Annual Report and Accounts includes reportable materiel losses. Culpable losses include the result of proven or suspected fraud, theft, arson or sabotage, or any other deliberate act including repairable damage caused maliciously to buildings, stores or other equipment. Non-culpable losses include the result of accidental damage or unavoidable and, or unforeseen circumstances. Non-culpable losses can also occur where the loss of materiel could be expected in the normal course of MOD business e.g. inventory or equipment damaged or destroyed by enemy fire or due to authorised tests or practice firings. However, unless there is evidence of culpability, losses in these circumstances are not reportable in the Annual Report and Accounts. The value of reportable materiel losses is contained in the following tables:
	
		
			 Value of items lost 
			 £ million 
			  Financial year 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 (DE&S)(1) 1.546 0.987 1.030 2.520 (2)34.957 
			 LCS Donnington(3) 0 0.240 0.193 0.005 0.064 
			 LCS Bicester(3) 0 0.022 0.019 0.002 0.192 
			 HMNB Clyde 0.047 0.028 0.038 0.034 0.059 
			 HMNB Portsmouth 0.067 0.044 0.039 0.053 0.024 
			 HMNB Devonport 0.020 0.022 0.043 0.025 0.034. 
			 ACIO Colchester(4) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) HM Naval Bases (HMNB) and Logistic Commodities and Services (LCS) sites are part of DE&S. (2) Included within an amount for the write-off costs of Bowman radio assets (£184 million) initially reported in the MOD'S accounts 2009-10, which through subsequent investigation was reduced to £33.1 million which was reported in the MOD'S Accounts 2011-12. (3) Costs are not available for LCS Donnington, LCS Bicester in financial year 2007-2008. (4) Army Careers Information Office (ACIO) Colchester is not part of DE&S. 
		
	
	
		
			 Value of items lost in transit 
			 £ million 
			  Financial year 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 DE&S 3.144 4.991 7.425 4.512 4.835 
			 LCS Donnington(1) 0 2.061 4.230 3.170 2.412 
			 LCS Bicester(1) 0 0.843 0.809 0.919 0.639 
			 HMNB Clyde 0.132 0.049 0.024 0.014 0.018 
			 HMNB Portsmouth 0.597 0.187 0.314 0.227 0.202 
			 HMNB Devonport 0.006 0.017 0.010 0.016 0.006 
			 ACIO Colchester 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Costs are not available for LCS Donnington, LCS Bicester in financial year 2007-2008. Note: Trivial losses (valued at less than £250) are included in this table. 
		
	
	
		
			 Total value of accountable stores losses 
			 £ million 
			  Financial year 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 LCS Donnington 3.175 2.476 
			 LCS Bicester 0.921 0.831 
			 HMNB Clyde 0.048 0.077 
			 HMNB Portsmouth 0.280 0.226 
			 HMNB Devon port 0.041 0.040 
			 ACIO Colchester 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Value of trivial losses 
			 £ million 
			  Financial year 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 LCS Donnington 0.010 0.004 
			 LCS Bicester 0.002 0.001 
			 HMNB-Clyde 0.002 0.004 
			 HMNB Portsmouth 0.013 0.007 
			 HMNB Devonport 0.006 0.004 
			 ACIO Colchester 0 0 
			 Note: Trivial losses are losses valued at less than £250. 
		
	
	I am sorry for the delay in providing this information which has taken some time to compile.

Mali

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be responsible for the protection of UK military trainers in Mali.

Andrew Robathan: The UK is offering up to 40 military personnel for the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Mali, primarily in a training role. Provision of force protection elements, including medics, is the responsibility of EUTM, and a force generation process is under way to generate these elements. Until this process concludes, the allocation of specific elements to nations will not be confirmed.
	The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and Prime Minister have made it clear that the UK does not plan to offer force protection for EUTM Mali.

Military Aircraft

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Rivet Joint RC-35 surveillance aircraft to (a) be delivered and (b) enter operational service.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence is acquiring three RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, as part of the Airseeker signals intelligence capability. The first of these aircraft will be delivered in December 2013, followed by further deliveries in 2015 and 2017. Airseeker is expected to enter service in October 2014.

Military Bases

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he expects to announce the basing review;
	(2)  when he expects to announce his plans for the drawdown of troops from Germany.

Andrew Robathan: The basing review and the timetable for the drawdown of troops from Germany will be announced later this year.

Navy: Australia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy will be represented at the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review in Sydney in October 2013.

Andrew Murrison: No decision has yet been taken on the nature of the United Kingdom's representation at the Royal Australian Navy's centenary fleet review in 2013.

Qatar

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with NATO on the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement with Qatar; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has not had specific discussions with NATO on the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement with Qatar but we are aware that NATO remains in dialogue with Qatar in pursuit of such an agreement.

Royal Army Dental Corps: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Royal Army Dental Corps are liable for redundancy under tranche 3, by rank.

Mark Francois: As part of the January 2013 redundancy announcement for Tranche 3 that earmarked 5,300 posts, the number of personnel in the Royal Army Dental Corps who are required to be made redundant are:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Officers (may be of any rank) 7 
			 Staff Sergeant 2 
			 Sergeant 6 
			 Corporal 12 
			 Lance Corporal 6 
			 Private 4

Royal Army Medical Corps: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Royal Army Medical Corps are liable for redundancy under tranche 3, by rank.

Mark Francois: As part of the January 2013 redundancy announcement for tranche 3 that earmarked 5,300 posts, the number of personnel in the Royal Army Medical Corps who are required to be made redundant are:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Officers (may be of any rank) 4 
			 Soldiers (may be of any rank) 10

Royal Logistic Corps: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Royal Logistic Corps are liable for redundancy under tranche 3, by rank.

Mark Francois: As part of the January 2013 redundancy announcement for tranche 3 that earmarked 5,300 post, the number of personnel in the Royal Logistic Corps who are required to be made redundant are:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Lt Col 12 
			 Major 22 
			 Captain 14 
			 Warrant Officer Class 2 1 
			 Staff Sergeant 1 
			 Sergeant 33 
			 Corporal 95 
			 Lance Corporal 90 
			 Private 399

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Peter Luff: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the steps being taken to draw the attention of parishes and dioceses to advice available on the need to regulate church repair liability; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Baldry: The general position with regard to chancel repair liability is now a good deal clearer and more satisfactory than it has previously been. Following discussion with the Charity Commission in the light of the Broadway case, the Commission has now given general advice—available on its website—which explains that chancel repair liability need not be enforced or registered in every case. Instead,
	“PCC members must actively consider whether it should be registered and enforced, taking account of their PCC’s particular circumstances to reach a decision.”
	The guidance goes on to provide a helpful framework for taking decisions on these questions.
	The other significant development is the statement from the Heritage Lottery Fund (which will take over the grants repair scheme for places of worship in April). They will not encourage PCCs to pursue chancel repair liability where it is unreasonable for them to do so. These two developments should make is much less difficult for PCCs when it comes to balancing their responsibilities as charity trustees with their responsibility to support the Church’s mission. If a PCC—having taken a decision not to enforce or register chancel repair liability in accordance with the framework set out by the Charity Commission—wished to give householders the added assurance that there would be no subsequent change of mind, it would be open to them to enter into deeds under which they agreed not to register or enforce the liability. While the Church nationally cannot give advice to PCCs in specific cases, the Legal Office of the National Church Institutions is able to offer advice to diocesan Registrars on this subject.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Consultants

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many consultants her Department employed in 2012; and at what cost to the public purse.

Alan Duncan: In line with Cabinet Office reporting requirements, DFID does not record consultancy expenditure by calendar year and does not hold information on the number of individuals employed to deliver each consultancy contract. To do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the potential effect on development projects in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo of the failure to sign a peace and security framework for the Great Lakes Region; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development undertook an assessment of the impact of the conflict on DFID programmes in North Kivu in August 2012 and have been closely following any changes to that original assessment. Elements of our programme have come to a complete halt as the conflict jeopardises their delivery. We have continued providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need, as well as basic services, such as access to water and sanitation.
	The current conflict illustrates that a coordinated international approach to diplomacy and aid programmes is fundamental to ensuring that UK investments produce long-lasting results in eastern DRC. Officials from DFID, FCO and MOD are meeting in Kampala this week to determine how the UK should work together to promote peace, stability, and development in eastern DRC. FCO and DFID Ministers will consider options on this in February.
	While our approach will be geographically focussed on eastern DRC, it will consider regional dynamics and how a regional political settlement could be supported. The UK sees the UN Secretary General's initiative to bring countries in the region together to support stability in eastern DRC (the Regional Framework Agreement) as an important opportunity to promote long term peace and stability. We are actively following this process and we urge all the parties involved to conclude these discussions soon.

Developing Countries: Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to help victims of human trafficking return to their countries of origin and provide reintegration support;
	(2)  which organisations and countries are in receipt of Government funding for the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of human trafficking to their country of origin; and what the value of such funding is;
	(3)  how many victims of human trafficking and slavery have been returned to their country of origin; and how much funding her Department has provided to help with their reintegration to date.

Lynne Featherstone: Responsibility for helping victims of trafficking return to their countries of origin rests with the UK Border Agency (UKBA), with support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The Department for International Development (DFID) supports reintegration for victims of trafficking indirectly through its contribution to the Returns and Reintegration Fund, jointly managed by UKBA, FCO, DFID and Ministry of Justice. In 2012-13, DFID contributed £2 million.

Libya

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of how the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of revolutionary fighters priority of the Conflict Pool has been implemented in respect of Libya.

Justine Greening: The Conflict Pool has funded several strands-of activity relating to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of revolutionary fighters in Libya. This includes disarmament, defence reform and policing advisers, and the Defence Advisory Team, who provide advice to the Prime Minister's Office, Ministries of Defence and Interior, and military. Examples of activities this has supported include the provision of leadership and forensics training to the Ministry of Interior, explosive ordnance disposal training to the Ministry of Defence and emergency repairs of improvised explosive device disposal equipment used by the police. It also funds the United Nations Mine Action Service to support de-mining activities.
	Future planned activities include sending an advisory team to Libya for six months to assist the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and Armed Forces Chief of Staff’s Office establish the police and the armed forces training facility.

Mali

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) her EU counterparts and (b) the European Commission on increasing supplies of humanitarian aid to Mali.

Lynne Featherstone: Britain has responded quickly to meet the growing humanitarian needs in Mali. The European Commission (EC) have also provided substantial assistance of over £17 million so far this year, but it is vital that other donors step forward to carry their share of the international response.
	To this end on 30 January 2013, the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) met with the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Response, to discuss the EC's ongoing plans for providing support to Mali.
	In the coming weeks, the Secretary of State will be meeting with her French, Danish, German and Dutch counterparts, to help ensure an effective response to the crisis takes place.

Mali and Algeria

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to set up aid streams to (a) Mali and (b) Algeria.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral development programme in Mali and does not provide direct funding to the Malian Government. We have however provided £12 million in humanitarian assistance in direct response to the Mali conflict over the last year and are currently supporting 200,000 displaced people with provision of food, emergency health care and medicines.
	DFID does not have bilateral programmes in North Africa and does not provide direct funding to the Algerian Government. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office-led regional Arab Partnership Participation Fund, to which DFID has contributed £20 million, supports projects in Algeria working on human rights and youth entrepreneurship. The tri-departmental Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool, which aims to promote greater stability and security in the region and to which DFID contributes, also funds projects in Algeria.

Overseas Aid

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid channelled through international bodies goes to (a) the European Commission, (b) the World Bank, (c) the UN, (d) the Global Fund and (e) international charities.

Justine Greening: In 2011, total UK aid spent through the following multilateral institutions was:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 (a) European Commission 1,184 
			 (b) World Bank 1,707 
			 (c) UN Agencies 378 
			 (d) Global Fund 378 
		
	
	In 2011, UK aid provided to international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) totalled £895 million.
	Full information on our aid spend is available within the Statistics on International Development publication, which can be found at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2012/SID-2012-Tables-index/

Overseas Aid

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK spending through international bodies and international charities is transparent and readily accessible to the public.

Justine Greening: Non-governmental organisations (NGO) in receipt of funding from DFID's major grant schemes must meet new international transparency standards for UK funding from April 2013. The Department co-funds a transparency programme supporting UK NGOs to comply with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standard and to improve NGO disclosure of project, governance and performance information.
	In its multilateral aid review, the Department assessed transparency as a priority area for reform. Since then, multilateral organisations have made considerable progress on transparency, with a significant number already publishing data in accordance with the IATI standard.

Overseas Aid

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effect the recent figures on the economy from the Office for National Statistics will have on the Government's target for overseas aid of 0.7 per cent.

Justine Greening: At the time of the spending review in October 2010 the Government committed to deliver 0.56% of gross national income (GNI) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2011 and 2012 and 0.7% in 2013 and thereafter.
	At that time we forecast that the UK would need to allocate £8,705 million in 2011. (0.56%), £9,117 million in 2012 (0.56%), £12,011 million in 2013 (0.7%) and £12,646 million in 2014 (0.7%). A total of £42,479 million over the four years.
	This was updated at both the 2011 and 2012 autumn statement, based on the latest Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts.
	Budgets now allow for the UK to spend £8,651 million in 2012 (0.56%), £11,300 million in 2013 (0.7%) and £11,774 million in 2014 (0.7%).

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Alan Duncan: The information is as follows:
	1(a) DFID's average overtime payment per member of staff for the period 2008-12 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Overtime cost per employee (£) 
			 2008-09 649.18 
			 2009-10 543.45 
			 2010-11 430.45 
			 2011-12 405.05 
			 2012-13 (April to December) 225.77 
		
	
	1 (b) DFID's total cost for overtime payments to members of staff for the period 2008-12 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Total overtime cost (£) 
			 2008-09 1,069,194.87 
			 2009-10 879,850.11 
			 2010-11 692,594.23 
			 2011-12 687,373.54 
			 2012-13 (April to December) 415,650.03 
		
	
	2 (a and b) None.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) Ministers in her Department, (b) staff in her Department and (c) the Consulate General in Jerusalem have had with representatives of the Palestinian Authority on payments made to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in the last 12 months.

Alan Duncan: Discussions on such matters are held on a regular basis.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior officials in her Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alan Duncan: None.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many chairs in her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alan Duncan: None.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior officials of her Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body.

Alan Duncan: None.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Cold Weather Payments: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was spent on cold weather payments in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency were allocated cold weather payments in (a) November 2012, (b) December 2012 and (c) January 2012.

Steve Webb: The constituency of Kilmarnock and Loudoun is covered by two weather stations Auchincruive and Bishopton in 2012-13 and 2011-12 and one weather station Bishopton in 2010-11 and so the figures reflect this.
	Please note that weather stations also cover other constituencies and this is reflected in the figures.
	We have interpreted the question to mean January 2013 not 2012.
	There were no triggers in either of the weather stations in November 2012, December 2012 and January 2013 and no payments have been made to individuals in Kilmarnock and Loudoun during this period.
	
		
			 Table 1: Expenditure in Scotland and Kilmarnock and Loudoun over the past three years 
			 £ 
			  Scotland Kilmarnock and Loudoun 
			 2010-11 93,947,500 24,895,000 
			 2011-12 1,812,500 0 
			 November 2012 to date 5,280,000 0 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund computer system. 2. Information regarding annual expenditure for Social Fund schemes in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland office and is not included in the above figures. 3, These figures only include payments made in respect of weather stations whose coverage areas lie entirely within Scotland. There are some weather station areas that cross the border with England; as we do not know which country these recipients are in, they are excluded from the figures. 4. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units rather than to households or individuals. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. The annual expenditure for cold weather payments is based on the estimated number of eligible benefit units on 31 October at the start of the relevant year. 5. Since 2008-09, each benefit unit is paid £25 for each seven day period of cold weather. In 2007-08, the rate was £8.50 for each seven day period. 6. Figure are rounded to the nearest £100,000.

Employment and Support Allowance: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency were underpaid employment and support allowance as a result of departmental error in each of the last three years; and what the total amount of underpayment was.

Mark Hoban: The information is not available in the format requested.

Housing Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20, (f) 21, (g) 22, (h) 23 and (i) 24 years old were in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 1997; and what the annual cost to the Exchequer was of such payments.

Steve Webb: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Housing benefit (HB) recipients by single age: Timeseries 
			 Age November 2008 September 2009 September 2010 September 2011 
			 16 2,370 2,200 1,790 1,550 
			 17 8,720 9,610 8,450 7,220 
			 18 20,870 24,580 23,960 21,670 
			 19 31,370 38,200 39,430 37,200 
			 20 41,100 48,480 51,150 50,700 
			 21 48,490 58,880 60,680 61,350 
			 22 53,250 65,020 70,650 69,950 
			 23 57,100 68,180 75,020 78,460 
			 24 59,160 71,540 77,540 81,570 
		
	
	
		
			 Housing benefit (HB) expenditure by single age: Timeseries 
			 £ million 
			 Age November 2008 September 2009 September 2010 September 2011 
			 16 14 14 12 11 
			 17 48 53 48 43 
			 18 105 124 123 114 
			 19 150 185 188 183 
			 20 193 234 244 243 
			 21 225 279 290 295 
			 22 246 310 334 338 
			 23 263 329 359 379 
			 24 273 344 374 399 
			 Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to 10. 3. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and August 2012 are the most recent available. 5. Age is based on the age of the claimant, whether single or a couple so will not match published figures for under 25 year olds. 6. Claimants with an unknown age recorded are excluded from these figures. 7. Expenditure is reported in £millions and rounded to the nearest £ million. 8. The breakdown of HB expenditure into the above groups is estimated based on a combination of quarterly statistical data and local authority subsidy returns, as outturn expenditure data are not available at this level. For 2008-09, November 2008 data have been used as this is the most representative dataset available during this period. 9. These estimates are consistent with the latest published expenditure outturn available at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/h_tables_autumn_2012_211212.xls Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Housing Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 16 and 35 and without children in each parliamentary constituency received housing benefit for a single dwelling in each financial year since 1997; and what the cost to the Exchequer was of such payments.

Steve Webb: Information by parliamentary constituency is not readily available prior to June 2012 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Such information by parliamentary constituency that is available is on a new visualisation —Stat-Xplore—published at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool

Housing Benefit

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people under the age of 25 whose parents earned between (a) £34,000 and £42,475, (b) £42,475 and £150,000 and (c) more than £150,000 per annum were in receipt of housing benefit in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the total amount received by such individuals was.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
	Information regarding the amount of earnings of parents of housing benefit recipients is not required as part of the claims process and is therefore not recorded on the datasets available for analysis in respect of housing benefit.

Housing Benefit: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the potential effect on numbers of vulnerable people in seaside towns of proposed changes to housing benefit.

Steve Webb: Independent evaluation of the current housing benefit reforms has been commissioned and the findings will be published. The evaluation will examine the effect of the changes in a range of local communities including seaside towns.

Housing Benefit: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of households in (a) Liverpool, Riverside constituency and (b) Liverpool which will be affected by the under-occupancy changes to housing benefit due to come into effect in April 2013;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average reduction in housing benefit for recipients resident in (a) Liverpool, Riverside constituency and (b) Liverpool following the under-occupancy changes due to come into effect in April 2013.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
	Regional figures were included in the impact assessment which can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf

Housing Benefit: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many foster carers in Scotland he estimates will be affected by changes to housing benefit.

Steve Webb: We estimate that across the UK the number of foster carers who may be affected by the introduction of the social sector size criteria is fewer than 5,000.
	The information requested for Scotland is not available.
	(Indicative information from a variety of sources including a survey conducted by the Fostering Network in 2010, Department for Education and devolved Administrations, Family Resources survey).

Housing: North West

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the North West have moved out of their home due to under-occupancy rules, by local authority.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available. The size criteria rules have been applied when assessing housing benefit entitlement for people renting in the private sector since the 1990s. People move for a variety of reasons and it is not possible to accurately disaggregate these.
	The size criteria rules are being extended to social sector tenants from April 2013. As part of this change the Department is commissioning an independent evaluation. An interim report of the evaluation will be published during 2014.

Jobcentre Plus

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus in (i) Woking constituency, (ii) Surrey and (iii) the UK in each of the last four years.

Mark Hoban: The following tables show the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time vacancies advertised in Jobcentre Plus in (i) Woking constituency, (ii) Surrey and (iii) the UK in each of the last four years.
	
		
			 Full-time vacancies 
			  Woking constituency Surrey county Great Britain 
			 2009 3,525 34,110 2,350,358 
			 2010 5,148 43,597 2,634,137 
			 2011 5,233 48,169 2,929,032 
			 2012 5,856 53,224 3,290,314 
		
	
	
		
			 Part-time vacancies 
			  Woking constituency Surrey county Great Britain 
			 2009 1,189 13,540 963,083 
			 2010 1,298 20,533 982,416 
			 2011 1,426 19,942 1,030,550 
			 2012 1,488 24,353 1,171,505 
			 Notes: 1. The latest available data is November 2012. 2. Data for September 2010 is unavailable. 3. One month's figures could include some vacancies that had been carried forward from prior months and hence there could be an element of double counting. Source: NOMIS

Jobcentre Plus

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs were advertised with Jobcentre Plus as of 24 January 2013; and how many of those were (a) long-term, (b) short-term, (c) self-employed, (d) zero-hours contract and (e) unclassified vacancies.

Mark Hoban: As of 24 January 2013, the information is as follows:
	261,114 jobs were advertised as live on Universal Jobmatch; (a) 220, 623 jobs were long term, (b) 2, 364 were short term, (c) 38, 037 were self employed and (e) 90 were unclassified. We do not have a figure for zero-hours contract.

National Insurance Credits

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for national insurance credit were disallowed for refusal to comply with a jobseeker direction in the two years prior to September 2012.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

New Enterprise Allowance

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Glasgow East constituency have been supported towards self-employment by a business mentor through the new enterprise allowance to date.

Mark Hoban: The new enterprise allowance is available to people aged 18 and over who are claiming jobseeker's allowance and is available only in Great Britain.
	For the period April 2011 up to and including May 2012 there have been 17,880 starts with a business mentor in Great Britain, 1,520 starts in Scotland and 30 starts in Glasgow East constituency.
	All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.These figures are based upon official Get Britain Working statistics available via the DWP website:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_aug12.pdf

Social Security Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) families and (b) individual claimants who, once the benefit cap is introduced, will be able fully to cover any shortfall with their rent with discretionary housing payments (i) nationally and (ii) in Brighton and Hove in each of the next two years; how many jobs Jobcentre Plus has been able to identify as available for such individuals; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Local authorities have discretion on whether to pay, how much to pay and the period over which to pay discretionary housing payments, it is therefore not possible to estimate the precise impact on individual cases.
	We have made available to the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme an additional £65 million in 2013-14 and £35 million in 2014-15 to provide transitional support to help workless households affected by the cap. However welfare reform is aimed at encouraging people to move into work, increase their hours, and/or move to more affordable accommodation. It is anticipated that the behavioural changes that the reforms are intended to encourage will take place in many cases without assistance from discretionary housing payments.
	We are working with the families affected and providing the support they need through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to help them back to work. The Office for National Statistics' vacancy survey shows employers holding around half a million unfilled vacancies nationally at any one time, but this figure cannot be broken down to local level.

Travellers: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which discussions he has had with the Scottish Government regarding the number of Roma families who have become resident in Scotland and the funding available to support them.

Mark Hoban: No specific discussions have been had with the Scottish Government in relation to targeted funding for Roma families.

Universal Credit

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will give consideration to introducing a weekly payment system for universal credit in exceptional circumstances, such as domestic violence cases.

Mark Hoban: For a minority of claimants, alternative payment arrangements will be required in addition to budgeting support. This may include making more frequent than monthly payments, paying housing costs directly to landlords or splitting payment of an award between partners. Wherever possible, these exceptional arrangements will be time-limited and delivered in conjunction with appropriate support to help claimants successfully make the transition to monthly budgeting. In order to provide greater flexibility, applications will be considered on a case by case basis and assessed on their individual merits.

Winter Fuel Payments: Birmingham

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham are eligible for winter fuel payments.

Steve Webb: Over 95% of winter fuel payments are made automatically, without the need to claim, based on information held in DWP records. A small number of people whose circumstances we do not know need to make a claim. It is not possible to give the exact number of eligible people, but we have no reason to estimate that eligibility is materially different from the number of payments made.
	Information on the number of winter fuel payments paid is provided in the documents ‘Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2011-12 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender (All)’. This is available on the internet at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 656W, on work capability assessment, if he will list the number of people reassessed for each time period by medical condition.

Mark Hoban: A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library. These cover the durations between the date of decision by the Departments' decision maker at the initial work capability assessment (WCA) and the date of decision by the Departments' decision maker at the second WCA by medical condition for all claims with repeat decisions taken on them (i) in 2010, (ii) in 2011, (iii) between January and May 2012.
	The number of repeat assessments in 2010, particularly the number held a longer duration after the initial assessment, is lower than in subsequent years, as ESA had only been introduced in October 2008 and therefore the caseload was lower in earlier years. Therefore, one would expect an increase in repeat assessments over time.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Work programme sub-contractors have received no referrals since the programme started; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Department does not hold this information.
	The level of referrals is a commercial matter between the prime provider and their sub-contractors.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session.

Steve Webb: At the end of December 2012, 891 questions for written answer on a named day were received of which 23 (2.6%) received a substantive answer after the named day. All named day questions had received a substantive answer.
	The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010 to 2012 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session.

Steve Webb: At the end of December 2012, 1,124 questions for ordinary written answer had been received of which 3 (0.3%) were answered after 30 days. All questions have now received a substantive answer.
	The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010 to 2012 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.